Preparation and characterization FeS2 quantum dots -SnO2/MWCNTs nanocomposites for photocatalytic process with response surface methodology

Iron sulfide (FeS2) quantum dots (QDs) on tin dioxide (SnO2) anchored multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as a new photocatalysts were prepared by simple precipitation method. The prepared catalyst was characterized by Dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-visible spectroscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The size of FeS2-SnO2 and FeS2-SnO2/MWCNTs was obtained 35.0 and 36.0nm, respectively. The crystallite size of SnO2 and FeS2 QDs-SnO2 has been estimated as 20.2, and 22.1nm, respectively. The photocatalytic efficiency of the FeS2 QDs, FeS2 QDs-SnO2 and FeS2 QDs-SnO2/MWCNTs nanocomposites were investigated by the decomposition of methyl orange (MO) as an organic dye under ultraviolet light irradiation. The FeS2 QDs, FeS2 QDs-SnO2 and FeS2 QDs-SnO2/MWCNTs nanocomposites indicated a high photocatalytic influence at pH 3.0 and within 60min. The photocatalytic results represented that the photocatalytic efficiency of FeS2 QDs-SnO2/MWCNTs nanocomposites was higher than other the prepared nano-photocatalyst.