Preparation and Photocatalyst Properties of Zinc Sulfide Using a Distinct Sulfur Source: 1-Benzylidenethiourea

Zinc sulfide nanostructures were prepared by hydro/solvothermal process via reaction of Zn(NO 3 ) 2 and a thio Schiff base ligand, 1-benzylidenethiourea (L) as new sulfuring agent in ethanol and water solvents. The obtained ZnS nanoparticles were studied structurally by XRD, EDX, FT-IR and UV–Vis spectroscopies and BET analysis. According to SEM and TEM images, it appears that the synthesized zinc sulfide have flower-like and sphere-like structures. Due to the quantum confinement effect in both structures, the ultraviolet absorption spectra show the blue shift in the band gap. From the results, it is obvious that the size and morphology of the obtained structures depend on solvent type, temperature and duration of reaction. The photocatalytic activities of the as-synthesized samples were evaluated by the color removal of methyl orange under UV irradiation.