Synthesis of Copper-Coated CuS Core–Shell Nanoparticles by CBD for Rhodamine Blue Dye Degradation

Core–shell nanoparticles were synthesised by coating copper over CuS nanoparticles, which were synthesised using different precursors. X-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and field-emission electron microscopy (FESEM) analysis showed the variation in crystallite size, chemical state, and morphological properties. The band gap was in the range of 1.32–2.08 eV for coated and uncoated samples. The emission peaks in photoluminescence spectra showed the presence of defects, and all analyses were correlated with each other to explain the 95% degradation of 50 ml rhodamine blue dye at a concentration of 1 mg/L in 60 min using the catalytic weight of 15 mg. The plasmonic properties were observed in near-infrared (NIR) absorption analysis and explained with the help of XPS and its enhancement in photocatalytic activity. The coating of copper over copper sulphide nanoparticles in sample 1-C and 2-C showed improved catalytic degradation for rhodamine blue.