Chemical synthesis, structural, optical, magnetic characteristics and enhanced visible light active photocatalysis of Ni doped CuS nanoparticles

In this paper, we report systematic investigations on the effects of Ni doping on the structural, optical, magnetic and photocatalytic characteristics of CuS nanoparticles synthesized by simplistic wet chemical co-precipitation route via EDTA molecules as templates. XRD studies confirmed that accurate phase formation of synthesized nanoparticles and chemical composition were obtained by EDX. Magnetic measurements revealed that 3% Ni doped CuS nanoparticles show signs of good ferromagnetism at room temperature and transition of magnetic signs from ferromagnetic to paramagnetic nature by increasing the Ni dopant concentration in CuS host matrix. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of the prepared pure and Ni doped CuS nanoparticles were evaluated as a function of simulated sunlight irradiation via RhB organic dye pollutant as a test molecule. Particularly, in the presence of 3% Ni doped CuS nanoparticles in pollutant solution 98.46% degradation efficiency was achieved within 60 min of sunlight irradiation; meanwhile bare CuS attained only 83.22%. Further, after five cycles 3% Ni doping CuS nanoparticles exhibit good photocatalytic stability with very negligible catalyst loss. We believe that the investigations in this study provides adaptable pathway for the synthesizing of various diluted magnetic semiconductor nanoparticles and their applications in spintronic devices as well as sunlight-driven photocatalysts intended for wastewater purification.