Citrus limetta juice as capping agent in hydrothermal synthesis of ZnS nanosphere for photocatalytic activity

ZnS nanospheres have been synthesized by a simple cost-effective hydrothermal method using Citrus limetta juice as a capping agent. The morphology and composition of the synthesized material have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FUR), energy dispersed X-ray spectrometry (EDS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy and room temperature photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). HRTEM images confirm that the particles are nanospheres. Multiple defect emission of the ZnS nanospheres was noticed from PL study. The photocatalytic experiment indicates the potential degradation (83%) of Rhodamine B (RhB) under solar radiation due to the presence of the synthesized Zns nanospheres. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.