Synthesis and Photocatalysis of ZnIn₂S₄ Nano/Micropeony

Abstract

Homogeneous ZnIn2S4 nano/micropeony of about 1.94 μm in diameter (σ = 9.7%) with petals of ∼10 nm in thickness has been synthesized by a solventhermal method. HRTEM and SAED analyses indicate that the growth of the petal is in ab plane, and such an orientation has also been revealed by the intensity ratio of 006/110 XRD diffractions of the peonies. The ternary ZnIn2S4 phase has been converted from the binary ZnS under the experimental condition; such a conversion can be realized in the range of 155−180 °C. The peony morphology is thought to be the result of the equilibrium of the anisotropic lamella-growth controlled by the capping reagent OTC and the isotropic dentrite-growth controlled by the dynamic Ostwald ripening process. The influence of reaction temperature, reaction time, and solvent are also discussed. The band gaps of samples are measured. The as-synthesized ZnIn2S4 peonies so exhibit an efficient photodegradation of methylene blue under visible light.