The superiority of the photocatalytic and antibacterial performance of mechanochemically synthesized CdS nanoparticles over solvothermal-prepared ones

Abstract In this work, we have developed a facile, dry, and environmentally friendly mechanochemical method for the synthesis of cadmium sulfide (m-CdS) nanoparticles in a planetary ball mill using non-toxic precursors. Thiourea was for the first time used as a precursor of sulfide ion in room temperature solid state ball milling synthesis. For comparison of the mechanochemical approach with others, cadmium sulfide nanoparticles were also prepared using the solvothermal method (s-CdS). The crystal structure of cadmium sulfide nanoparticles was studied by XRD, the qualitative chemical band properties were examined by Raman scattering and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis, and particle morphology and microstructure were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy methods. The sizes of the m-CdS nanoparticles had 5–6 nm in diameter, which is 10 times smaller than the diameter of s-CdS nanorods. The photocatalytic activities of as-prepared cadmium sulfide nanoparticles on the dye degradation and hydrogen production by water splitting were evaluated and the antibacterial activities were also tested. The photocatalytic activity of m-CdS was superior to that of s-CdS in the degradation of Orange II under visible light irradiation. Better results for m-CdS were also evidenced in photocatalytic experiments on hydrogen generation. The maximum rate of hydrogen evolution for m-CdS was 191.9 µ molg −1 h −1 at the 120th min,while this indicator for s-CdS was only 58.0 µ molg −1 h −1 at the same irradiation time.The better effect of m-CdS was evidenced also in an antibacterial study (namely against gram-positive bacteria).