Photocatalytic degradation and antimicrobial activity of transition metal doped mesoporous ZnS nanoparticles

Latterly the development and application of photocatalysts to decompose or convert pollutants into organic fuels is one of the urgent issues. In the present work Fe3+, Mn2+ and Y3+ doped ZnS nanoparticles are prepared by using chemical co-precipitation method with equal amount of 5wt% dopant. Their photocatalytic activity is evaluated by the degradation of Turquoise Blue H5G (used as model pollutant) in aqueous solution under sunlight. The descending order of photocatalytic degradation efficiency under solar light is as follows: ZnS: Fe>ZnS: Mn>ZnS>ZnS: Y. Adsorption-desorption results show that applying the co-precipitation synthesizing method in the aqueous atmosphere will cause a mesoporous structure. The obtained specific surface area of the synthesized ZnS and doped ZnS nanoparticles varies from 12.6 to 55m(2)g(-1). TOC measurements confirm the mineralization of the photocatalyst. Photostability of the mesoporous doped ZnS nanoparticles regarding Zn leaching was evaluated. The photocurrent generation of the samples is confirming by using photoconductivity studies. Antimicrobial activities of the synthesized nanoparticles are tested for its efficiency. This is the first ever report on photocatalytic degradation of Turquoise Blue H5G by mesoporous ZnS and doped mesoporous ZnS nanoparticles.