Reduced graphene oxide wrapped ZnS-Ag2S ternary composites synthesized via hydrothermal method: Applications in photocatalyst degradation of organic pollutants

In this work, we have successfully synthesized ternary nanohybrid composite, ZnS-Ag2S wrapped with reduced graphene oxide (RGO) using hydrothermal method without any surfactant. We have accessed the photocatalytic ability of ZnS-Ag2S-RGO nanocomposite using the oxidation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under simulated sunlight irradiation. The superior photocatalytic ability of ZnS-Ag2S-RGO compared to bare ZnS, was ascribed to an efficient charge transfer from ZnS to Ag2S and graphene sheets. The recyclability results also demonstrated the excellent stability and reliability of the ZnS-Ag2S-RGO. In addition to the excellent photocatalytic degradation properties, the synthesized ZnS-Ag2S-RGO nanocomposite exhibited near white light emission, which implies that careful design and control of the composition could be lead to find application in near UV-white LEDs. The present work provides new insights into the synthesis and characterizations of ternary ZnS-Ag2S-RGO nanocomposites and its wide applications in the environmental protection issues. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.