Fabrication and characterization of FeS۲ / TiO۲ semiconductor nanocomposites: Investigation of degradation of crystal violet under UV light

In this study, a new hybrid FeS۲-TiO۲ photocatalyst was synthesized through the polyol method. The surface morphology, crystalline structure, and optical properties of as-prepared photocatalysts were characterized by SEM, XRD, and DRS analysis, respectively. This one-pot procedure led to the decoration of the anatase TiO۲ surface with spherical nanoparticles of FeS۲. Based on DRS analysis, incorporating TiO۲ with FeS۲ caused a redshift in the absorption edge of TiO۲ and decreased the band gap energy from ۳.۱ eV to ۲.۵ eV. To evaluate the photocatalytic performance of FeS۲-TiO۲, crystal violet was selected as a model of resistant organic pollutants. This study indicated that FeS۲ is a suitable candidate to increase the photocatalytic performance of TiO۲ significantly. Under ۱۵۰ min UV irradiation, ۷۵% degradation of crystal violet was achieved by FeS۲-TiO۲ nanocomposite, which was ۲۰% more than pure TiO۲. Eventually, the kinetic study revealed that degradation of crystal violet over TiO۲ follows the first-order reaction with the apparent rate constant of ۰.۰۰۹۲ ppm.min-۱.