Synthesis of M (M=Co2+, Co2+/Ni2+)-doped FeS2 Nanospheres with Enhanced Visible-light-induced Photocatalytic Activity.

Nano-spherical Co²⁺-doped FeS₂ was synthesized through a simple solvothermal method. The products were investigated using XRD, FE-SEM, BET, ICP, EDS, TEM, HRTEM, XPS, and UV-vis spectroscopy. The results indicated that Co²⁺ ion could change the particle nucleation process and inhibited the particle growth of FeS₂. In addition, when the content of doped Co²⁺ was 15%, the degradation efficiency of methylene blue (MB) achieved 60.72% after 210 min irradiation, which increased by 52.01% than that of the undoped FeS₂. Moreover, comparison experiments also demonstrated that the M (M=Co²⁺, Co²⁺/Ni²⁺)-doped FeS₂ photocatalytic activity efficiency sequence was Co²⁺ > Ni²⁺>Co²⁺/Ni²⁺. This is ascribed to the fact that the Co²⁺ doping could induce the absorption edge shifting into the visible-light region and increased the surface area of the samples. The effect mechanisms of M-doping on the band gap and the photocatalytic activity of FeS₂ were also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]