Bi2S3 nanorods decorated on bentonite nanocomposite for enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance towards degradation of organic dyes

In this study, we prepared bentonite-Bi2S3 nanocomposite via decoration of Bi2S3 nanorods on bentonite for the first time to enhance the photocatalytic performance of Bi2S3 nanorods under visible light irradiation. XRD, TEM, SEM-EDX, XPS, UV-DRS, PL, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, chronoamperometry, zeta potential, and BET techniques were used to compare analysis of structural, morphological, optical, electrochemical and textural properties of raw bentonite, bare Bi2S3 nanorods and bentonite-Bi2S3 nanocomposite. The photocatalytic performances of bentonite-Bi2S3 nanocomposite and bare samples were also investigated and comparatively evaluated by photodegradations of crystal violet and rhodamine B dyes under visible light irradiation. The photocatalytic degradation efficiencies of fabricated bentonite-Bi2S3 nanocomposite for crystal violet and rhodamine B were determined as 100% and 85% after the periods of 30 min and 90 min, respectively, which were more superior compared with those of bare Bi2S3 nanorods. The enhanced photodegradation activity of bentonite-Bi2S3 nanocomposite was assigned to the good visible light absorption ability, enlarged surface area, increased adsorption capability and decreased aggregation of Bi2S3 nanorods with the inclusion of bentonite platform as well as suppressed hole-electron recombination process due to electrostatic interaction between negatively charged bentonite surface and positively charged holes. The reactive species trapping revealed that hydroxyl radicals played a major role on the photodegradation and a plausible mechanism for photodegradation of dye molecules on bentonite-Bi2S3 nanocomposite was suggested. The photodegradation of dyes was found to follow the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. The prepared photocatalyst exhibited good reusability and stability after 4 cycles. © 2021 Elsevier B.V.