Novel β-In2.77S4 nanosheet-assembled hierarchical microspheres: synthesis and high performance for photocatalytic reduction of Cr(vi). Issue 22 (12th February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shao, Leqiang; Li, Jie; Liang, Ximeng; Xie, Tian; Meng, Suci; Jiang, Deli; Chen, Min
• Is Part Of: RSC advances. Volume 6:Issue 22(2016)
• Page Start: 18227
• Page End: 18234
• Publication Date: 2016-02-12
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c5ra26850h
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2069

Abstract

Abstract : A novel nanosheet-assembled hierarchical sulfur deficient β-In2.77 S4 microsphere photocatalyst was prepared, and the β-In2.77 S4 microsphere shown high visible light photocatalytic activity in the reduction of aqueous Cr(vi ). Abstract : A novel nanosheet-assembled hierarchical sulfur-deficient β-In2.77 S4 microsphere photocatalyst was prepared via a facile hydrothermal method. The phase evolution and possible formation mechanism of the nanosheet-assembled hierarchical β-In2.77 S4 microspheres have been explored by virtue of temperature- and time-dependent experiments. The results demonstrated that the β-In2.77 S4 microspheres were composed of many thin nanosheets, and underwent the Oswald ripening and self-assembly processes. This unique hierarchical structure showed faster charge separation efficiency of photogenerated electron–hole pairs. It was found that the product synthesized under suitable hydrothermal conditions showed a large specific surface area (157.86 m 2 g −1 ) and high visible light photocatalytic activity in the reduction of aqueous Cr(vi ). The highest activity is obtained for β-In2.77 S4 (140 °C, 24 h), over which more than 99% of Cr(vi ) was reduced after 50 min. The results suggested that nanosheet-assembled hierarchical β-In2.77 S4 microspheres have potential application in the efficient utilization of solar energy for the treatment of Cr(vi )-containing wastewater.