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

In the current study, pure Bi 2 S 3 and Cu-doped Bi 2 S 3 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 Bi 2 S 3 , Cu(0.33%):Bi 2 S 3 , Cu(1%):Bi 2 S 3 and Cu(3%):Bi 2 S 3 , respectively. Cu(0.33%):Bi 2 S 3 nanocomposite catalyst was found to have higher photocatalytic degradation efficiency compared to other catalysts. Moreover, the crystalline size and bandgap value of pure Bi 2 S 3 and Cu(0.33%):Bi 2 S 3 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 Bi 2 S 3 nanocomposite catalyst.