Preparation and Characterization of Hierarchical CdS Nanoflowers for Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation

Hierarchical Cadmium Sulphide (CdS) thin films with high-surface area were deposited on a glass substrate using a hydrothermal technique at various deposition periods’ durations for the first time. As-deposited CdS films have been investigated structural, optical, morphological, and photocatalytic properties. The results demonstrate that the deposition period has a substantial impact on the physical and chemical characteristics of these films. X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that the structural characteristics of all samples are hexagonal and cubic phases. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) reveals the development of hierarchical nanoflowers with tiny gaps at lower deposition times; nevertheless, the density of the nanoflakes rises as the deposition time increases. Atomic force microscope (AFM) images of the films indicate morphological alterations and an increase in surface roughness from 4.58 nm to 7.26 nm. In conjunction with different time deposition, the photoluminescence (PL) behavior of the samples is outstanding, with acceptable transmittance spectra in the visible range. The optical band gap is directly connected to the deposition conditions, according to the transmittance data analysis; a direct bandgap ranging from 2.34 to 2.17 e V was calculated. The nanoflowers cadmium sulfide films exhibited unprecedented photocatalytic activities for the decomposition of methyl blue (MB) and methyl violet (MV) dyes, because high surface area, low energy gap, and efficient charge separation properties for prepared films.