Nanostructured ZnS : Ni2+ photocatalysts prepared by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis

Abstract

The preparation of visible-light- absorbing nanostructured ZnS:Ni2+ photocatalysts using ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) is presented. The nanoparticles are significantly more active and stable towards H-2 evolution from aqueous K2SO3 and Na2S solution than conventional ZnS:Ni2+ powders, owing to their good crystallinity and high surface area. This demonstrates the utility of USP in the preparation of highly active photocatalysts.

his material is based on work supported by the U.S. Department ofEnergy, Division of Materials Sciences under Award No. DE-FG02-07ER46418, through the Frederick Seitz Materials ResearchLaboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Thisresearch was carried out in part in the Center for Microanalysis ofMaterials, UIUC, which is partially supported by the U.S. Depart-ment of Energy under grant DE-FG02-07ER46418. SupportingInformation is available online from Wiley InterScience or fromthe authors