Structural characterization and photocatalytic applications of Bi2S3 nanorods decorated bentonite nanocomposite

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 more superior compared with those of bare Bi2S3 nanorods. A mechanism of dye molecules on bentonite-Bi2S3 nanocomposite was suggested.