Synthesis and characterization of CoS and CuS microstructures: toward photocatalytic application of CoS/CuS composite materials
Ait-karra, Aziz, Mourak, Abdellah, Zakir, Othmane, Lasri, Mohammed, Almaggoussi, Abdelmajid, Dikici, Burak, Idouhli, Rachid, Abouelfida, Abdesselam, Khadiri, Mohy Eddine, Benzakour, Jaouad
In this study, CoS/CuS composite catalysts were easily prepared by mechanically mixing pristine and pure CoS and CuS in different mass ratios to enhance the removal of methylene blue (MB) dye, a model cationic organic pollutant, using a dual approach combining adsorption and photodegradation. Before the preparation and catalytic application of the composites, CoS and CuS materials were separately synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method, using metal chlorides (CoCl2 and CuCl2) and thiourea (SC(NH2)2) as precursors at 140 and 160 degrees C, respectively, for a fixed duration of 16 h. The obtained samples were systematically characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to assess their purity, structural, and morphological properties. Electrical and optical properties were investigated through Hall effect measurements and optical reflectance spectroscopy, revealing distinct behaviors between the two synthesized materials. The study of MB removal by the CoS/CuS composites revealed superior catalytic activity and recycling stability compared to pristine CoS and CuS catalysts, with the highest performance observed for the composite containing 75 and 25% CuS.
- Journal
- JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE-MATERIALS IN ELECTRONICS
- Year
- 2026
- Volume
- 37
- Issue
- 2
- ISSN
- 0957-4522
- eISSN
- 1573-482X
- DOI
- 10.1007/s10854-025-16441-z
- WoS UID
- WOS:001654845200002