A Composite Photocatalyst Based on Hydrothermally-Synthesized Cu₂ZnSnS₄ Powders

A novel composite photocatalyst based on Cu₂ZnSnS₄ (CZTS) powders was synthesized and investigated for use as a photocatalyst. CZTS powders were first made using a conventional hydrothermal method and were then used to grow silver nanoparticles hybridized onto the CZTS under various conditions through a microwave-assisted hydrothermal process. After the obtained samples were subsequently mixed with 1T-2H MoS₂, the three synthesized component samples were characterized using X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (FE-SEM, FE-TEM), UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The resulting samples were also used as photocatalysts for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under a 300 W halogen lamp simulating sunlight with ~5% UV light. The photodegradation ability was greatly enhanced by the addition of Ag and 1T-2H MoS₂. Excellent photodegradation of MB was obtained under visible light. The effects of material characteristics on the photodegradation were investigated and discussed.