Investigation of the properties of photocatalytically active Cu-doped Bi2S3 nanocomposite catalysts

In the current study, pure Bi2S3 and Cu-doped Bi2S3 nanocomposite catalysts with different Cu concentrations (0.33, 1, and 3%) were synthesized by the hydrothermal method and photocatalytic degradation experiments of methylene blue were carried out in the presence of these catalysts for the first time. The samples were labeled as Bi2S3, Cu(0.33%):Bi2S3, Cu(1%):Bi2S3 and Cu(3%):Bi2S3, respectively. Cu(0.33%):Bi2S3 nanocomposite catalyst was found to have higher photocatalytic degradation efficiency compared to other catalysts. Moreover, the crystalline size and bandgap value of pure Bi2S3 and Cu(0.33%):Bi2S3 nanocomposite catalysts were determined by X-ray diffraction and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV-Vis) measurements, respectively. Consequently, it was observed for the first time in this study that the Cu-doped metal effectively affects the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of Bi2S3 nanocomposite catalyst.