Cauliflower-like Nickel Sulfide Nanostructures: Preparation, Optical Properties, Catalytic and Photocatalytic Activities

Semiconductor photocatalysis such as nickel sulfide has drawn much consideration from scientists in the current decade. The photocatalytic procedure is an eco-friendly process that recognized as a promising alternative for removing several hazardous pollutants. Attempts to find simple, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly procedures for the synthesis of high-purity single-phase nickel sulfide have received considerable attention. Here we demonstrate the preparation of nickel sulfide nanostructures via an eco-friendly hydrothermal process through a reaction of nickel sulfate and a new sulfur source of 1-benzylidenethiosemicarbazide being a thio Schiff-base compound. The effects of some reaction parameters, including solvent type, temperature, and duration of reaction on size and morphology of NiS nanoparticles were investigated. The FE-SEM micrographs showed the interesting cauliflower-like structures of the synthesized NiS nanoparticles. The absorption spectrum revealed a blue shift in the band gap of the synthesized NiS nanoparticles to bulk one due to small dimensions and disciplined arrays of cauliflower-like structures. The catalytic and photocatalytic abilities of the as-synthesized nickel sulfide product were surveyed by studying the catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol and the color removal of some organic dye pollution under UV irradiation in water treatment.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates the preparation of nickel sulfide nanostructures through an eco-friendly hydrothermal process. The synthesized nickel sulfide nanoparticles showed interesting cauliflower-like structures and a blue shift in the absorption spectrum. Furthermore, the product exhibited catalytic and photocatalytic abilities.