Effect of temperature and reaction time on the morphology of L-cysteine surface capped chalcocite (Cu2S) snowflakes dendrites nanoleaves and photodegradation study of methyl orange dye under visible light

Template-free, the facile hydrothermal route was used for the synthesis of pure self-assembled L-cysteine stabilized chalcocite nanoleaves (Cu2S@L-Cys NLs) with the best control of size, phase purity structure, morphology, and electrochemical properties. Effect of temperature (100-180 degrees C) and reaction time (8 - 24 h) were studied on the morphology of chalcocite Cu2S@L-Cys NLs snowflakes dendrites. By changing these factors, different morphologies such as irregular, regular, trigonal, hexagonal nanoleaf, and snowflakes dendrites like shapes were observed. Cu2S@L-Cys NLs were fabricated by using ethylenediamine (EDA) as a solvent. The photocatalytic performances of as-prepared Cu2S@L-Cys snowflake dendrites (NL3) and Cu2S@L-Cys irregular hexagram (NL4) in the degradation of methyl orange (MO) were examined under visible light. The noteworthy, unique bandgap (Cu2S@L-Cys snowflake dendrites NLs (1.55 eV) and Cu2S@L-Cys irregular hexagram NLs (1.58 eV) and the special morphology of Cu2S@L-Cys NLs increases the active sites for adsorption of dye, which causes extraordinary degradation activity. Furthermore, the c-cysteine (L-Cys) protective layer could efficiently alleviate the photocorrosion of Cu2S, giving rise to excellent stability. Cu2S@L-Cys NLs were reused successfully for photodegradation of dye due to the recycling ability of Cu2S@L-Cys NLs. The Cu2S@L-Cys snowflake dendrites NLs showed improved photocatalytic activity as compared to Cu2S@L-Cys irregular hexagram NLs. The improved surface area of Cu2S@L-Cys snowflake dendrites NLs, compared to that of the Cu2S@L-Cys irregular hexagram NLs, may be ascribed to the fact that snowflakes dendrites can support the growth and more surfaceactive sites of Cu2S@L-Cys. These results strongly suggest that the Cu2S@L-Cys snowflake dendrites are promising candidates for photocatalytic dye degradation.