Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine 6G by Sm Doped-CdS Nanoparticles Under Visible Light

In this research, samarium doped cadmium sulfide (Sm-CdS) nanoparticles were prepared through an ultrasound-assisted co-precipitation method. The synthesized sample was characterized by XRD, UV-Vis, ICP-OES and TEM techniques. The photocatalytic performance of the Sm-CdS was evaluated through the degradation of Rhodamine 6G (Rh-6G) under visible light irradiation. The effect of operational parameters on the degradation efficiency was modeled and optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). Under the optimal conditions ([Dye]0= 4 mg/l, [Catalyst]0= 0.6 g/l, pH= 8 and t= 70 min), more than 85% of the dye molecules were degraded. The results of the reusability of the photocatalyst showed that a negligible change in the photocatalytic activity was occurred after four reuses. Byproducts resulting from the photocatalytic degradation of Rh-6G were identified using the GC-MS technique.