ENHANCED ELECTROCATALYTIC AND PHOTOCATALYTIC ACTIVITY OF BALL MILLED COPPER TIN SULPHIDE BY INCORPORATING GO AND RGO

Abstract

In the present work photocatalytic and electrocatalytic activity of CTS-GO and CTS-rGO composites synthesized by ball milling method has been studied. The as synthesized composites were characterized for their structural, morphological and optical properties. Compared to as prepared (Cu3SnS4) CTS; (Cu3SnS4-Graphene Oxide) CTS-GO and (Cu3SnS4-reduced Graphene Oxide) CTS-rGO composites showed enhanced electrocatalytic and photocatalytic activity. Electrocatalytic activity experiments demonstrated that the CTS-GO and CTS-rGO composites exhibited large cathode current density, small Tafel slope and high stability in acidic medium. The photocatalytic activity of CTS-GO and CTS-rGO composites under the irradiation of visible light was evaluated by determining the degradation of methylene blue (MB). The CTS-GO and CTS-rGO composites exhibited an enhanced photocatalytic activity compared to bare CTS. The enhanced photocatalysis is due to the reduction in the recombination of the generated charge carriers, the increased absorption of light and improved dye absorptive with the incorporation of GO and rGO in CTS. The simple and efficient mechano-chemical strategy (ball milling) for preparation of the catalyst is more applicable to industrial production.