Photocatalytic oxidation of methylene blue dye under visible light by Ni doped Ag2S nanoparticles

Ag2S nanoparticles were prepared using a hydrothermal method, and Ni was doped via a photo-assisted deposition method. The samples produced were characterized using different tools. Furthermore, the catalytic performance of the Ag2S and Ni/Ag2S samples was examined in the degradation of methylene blue dye under visible light. The UV-vis spectral analysis detected a red shift after loading of Ni. The maximum degradation efficiency achieved was 100% with 3 wt%Ni/Ag2S as the photocatalyst after a 40-mm reaction time. The catalyst could be reused without any loss in activity for the first five cycles. (C) 2014 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.