Green synthesis of ZnS/MoS2-decorated porous carbon for photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline under visible light

Abstract This study investigated a one-step green pyrolysis method inspired by chemical vapor deposition, utilizing melamine and zinc nitrate precursors with varying sulfur content for degradation and adsorption of tetracycline. The method effectively synthesized a ZnS/MoS2 heterojunction composite...

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Main Authors: Zahra Amiri, Hosein Banna Motejadded Emrooz, Mobin Safarzadeh Khosrowshahi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-08920-4
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author Zahra Amiri
Hosein Banna Motejadded Emrooz
Mobin Safarzadeh Khosrowshahi
author_facet Zahra Amiri
Hosein Banna Motejadded Emrooz
Mobin Safarzadeh Khosrowshahi
author_sort Zahra Amiri
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study investigated a one-step green pyrolysis method inspired by chemical vapor deposition, utilizing melamine and zinc nitrate precursors with varying sulfur content for degradation and adsorption of tetracycline. The method effectively synthesized a ZnS/MoS2 heterojunction composite supported on a porous carbon substrate. It takes advantage of the gases (such as CO2, CO, and H2O) naturally released during pyrolysis to serve as internal activating agents. In contrast to traditional techniques that rely on inert atmospheres, chemical additives, or complicated high-temperature setups, this method minimizes both the ecological footprint and procedural complexity. The optimal composite, PCS2 (synthesized with 2 g of sulfur), exhibited the lowest band gap of 2.91 eV and the highest specific surface area of 216.83 m2 g−1, making it the most effective among the tested samples. This composite achieved 55% adsorption of pollutants and demonstrated a total removal efficiency of 81% for tetracycline. The addition of scavengers revealed that the primary active species in the reaction were holes. This synthesized method shows great promise for preparing heterojunction structures, making it highly suitable for removing organic pollutants from contaminated water.
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spelling doaj-art-9f1baf9ea65849b7a2e43a524d5d0a112025-08-20T03:37:27ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111910.1038/s41598-025-08920-4Green synthesis of ZnS/MoS2-decorated porous carbon for photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline under visible lightZahra Amiri0Hosein Banna Motejadded Emrooz1Mobin Safarzadeh Khosrowshahi2Nanotechnology Department, School of Advanced Technologies, Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST)Nanotechnology Department, School of Advanced Technologies, Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST)Nanotechnology Department, School of Advanced Technologies, Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST)Abstract This study investigated a one-step green pyrolysis method inspired by chemical vapor deposition, utilizing melamine and zinc nitrate precursors with varying sulfur content for degradation and adsorption of tetracycline. The method effectively synthesized a ZnS/MoS2 heterojunction composite supported on a porous carbon substrate. It takes advantage of the gases (such as CO2, CO, and H2O) naturally released during pyrolysis to serve as internal activating agents. In contrast to traditional techniques that rely on inert atmospheres, chemical additives, or complicated high-temperature setups, this method minimizes both the ecological footprint and procedural complexity. The optimal composite, PCS2 (synthesized with 2 g of sulfur), exhibited the lowest band gap of 2.91 eV and the highest specific surface area of 216.83 m2 g−1, making it the most effective among the tested samples. This composite achieved 55% adsorption of pollutants and demonstrated a total removal efficiency of 81% for tetracycline. The addition of scavengers revealed that the primary active species in the reaction were holes. This synthesized method shows great promise for preparing heterojunction structures, making it highly suitable for removing organic pollutants from contaminated water.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-08920-4TetracyclineMoS2ZnSPhotocatalytic degradationPorous carbonSelf-activation
spellingShingle Zahra Amiri
Hosein Banna Motejadded Emrooz
Mobin Safarzadeh Khosrowshahi
Green synthesis of ZnS/MoS2-decorated porous carbon for photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline under visible light
Scientific Reports
Tetracycline
MoS2
ZnS
Photocatalytic degradation
Porous carbon
Self-activation
title Green synthesis of ZnS/MoS2-decorated porous carbon for photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline under visible light
title_full Green synthesis of ZnS/MoS2-decorated porous carbon for photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline under visible light
title_fullStr Green synthesis of ZnS/MoS2-decorated porous carbon for photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline under visible light
title_full_unstemmed Green synthesis of ZnS/MoS2-decorated porous carbon for photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline under visible light
title_short Green synthesis of ZnS/MoS2-decorated porous carbon for photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline under visible light
title_sort green synthesis of zns mos2 decorated porous carbon for photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline under visible light
topic Tetracycline
MoS2
ZnS
Photocatalytic degradation
Porous carbon
Self-activation
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-08920-4
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AT hoseinbannamotejaddedemrooz greensynthesisofznsmos2decoratedporouscarbonforphotocatalyticdegradationoftetracyclineundervisiblelight
AT mobinsafarzadehkhosrowshahi greensynthesisofznsmos2decoratedporouscarbonforphotocatalyticdegradationoftetracyclineundervisiblelight