Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Reactive Dyes Under Visible Light Using ZnO/CdS/Co Nanocomposites: A Step Toward Advanced Environmental Remediation

Abstract

In this study, ZnO, CdS, ZnO/CdS, and ZnO/CdS/Co nanostructures were successfully synthesized using a simple chemical precipitation method. The formation of these nanostructures was confirmed through x-ray diffraction (XRD), but their morphological properties were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Their optical properties were investigated using UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The photocatalytic activity of these materials was tested for the degradation of Reactive Blue 160 (RB 160) under visible light. It was observed that ZnO/CdS nanocomposites exhibited superior photocatalytic performance compared to pure ZnO. Furthermore, the inclusion of cobalt (Co) in the ZnO/CdS nanocomposites significantly enhanced this activity, likely due to improved visible light absorption. These findings suggest that ZnO/CdS/Co nanocomposites are promising candidates for efficient photocatalytic applications, particularly in environmental remediation under visible light.