Investigation of the properties of photocatalytically active Cu-doped Bi₂S₃ nanocomposite catalysts

In the current study, pure Bi₂S₃ and Cu-doped Bi₂S₃ nanocomposite catalysts with different Cu concentrations (0.33, 1, and 3%) were synthesized by the hydrothermal method and photocatalytic degradation experiments of methylene blue were carried out in the presence of these catalysts for the first time. The samples were labeled as Bi₂S₃, Cu(0.33%):Bi₂S₃, Cu(1%):Bi₂S₃ and Cu(3%):Bi₂S₃, respectively. Cu(0.33%):Bi₂S₃ nanocomposite catalyst was found to have higher photocatalytic degradation efficiency compared to other catalysts. Moreover, the crystalline size and bandgap value of pure Bi₂S₃ and Cu(0.33%):Bi₂S₃ nanocomposite catalysts were determined by X-ray diffraction and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV–Vis) measurements, respectively. Consequently, it was observed for the first time in this study that the Cu-doped metal effectively affects the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of Bi₂S₃ nanocomposite catalyst.