Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Porous Aggregates of CuS Nanoparticles for Sunlight Photocatalysis

Solvated two-dimensional nanosheets of copper hydroxy dodecylsulfate in 1-butanol react with thiourea under microwave irradiation to yield surfactant-free porous aggregates of CuS nanoparticles. These aggregates exhibit excellent photocatalytic activity toward degradation of methylene blue, methyl orange, and 4-chlorophenol in natural sunlight. While the high surface area (14.74 m(2) g(-1)) and porosity increase the active reaction centers for adsorption and degradation of organic molecules, quantum confinement results in a low recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes. Chemical and photogenerated hydroxyl radicals cause the oxidation of the dyes and 4-chlorophenol.