Self-assembly of Cu-glutathione nanoparticles/CdS nanosheets for boosting photoredox performance under visible-light irradiation

Photocatalytic transformation of organic pollutants in aqueous environments has been recognized as one of the promising strategies to mitigate environmental challenges, in which the development of cost-effective and high-efficiency photocatalysts is regarded as a pivotal task. In this study, sheet-like ZnS semiconductor materials were initially fabricated via a solvothermal route, wherein diethylenetriamine (DETA) was employed as the solvent. Subsequently, Cd elements were incorporated through an ion-exchange strategy to substitute Zn elements, thereby affording CdS nanosheets (CdS NSs). Finally, by means of a self-assembly approach, Cu GSH, in which glutathione (GSH) functioned simultaneously as a reducing and stabilizing agent, was anchored onto the CdS NSs, thus yielding a series of Cu GSH/CdS NSs composites. The incorporation of Cu GSH markedly augmented the light-harvesting capacity of CdS NSs. In comparison with pristine CdS NSs, 5 wt% Cu GSH/CdS NSs demonstrated more pronounced photocatalytic activity toward the degradation of rhodamine B (98.7%) and tetracycline (99.6%) within 30 min, as well as superior reduction capability with respect to nitrobenzene (99.1%) and p -nitroaniline (98.4%) within 30 min. Furthermore, electrochemical analyses substantiated that the loading of Cu GSH onto CdS NSs facilitated the migration and separation of photogenerated charge carriers, thereby promoting photocatalytic efficiency.