Abstract
Bi2S3 nanorods with orthorhombic structure were successfully synthesized through hydrothermal method. Systematic experiments were accomplished to study the variable factors such as the Bi/S molar ratio, reaction time and reaction temperature, which have great impact on the structural morphologies of Bi2S3 and the photocatalytic performance. TEM and FE-SEM images reveal that the prepared Bi2S3 is flower-like built up from many nanorods with average 30-50nm in diameter and 0.5-1 mu m length. The optimal conditions for the preparation of Bi2S3 nanorods were Bi/S molar ratio 1/2 for 20h at 180 degree C to obtain the highest photocatalytic activity of ~98% towards methylene blue (MB) degradation. It is also found that the determined k values for Bi2S3 nanorods prepared at Bi/S molar ratio 1/2 was higher 40 and 5.5 times than that the samples prepared at either low or high Bi/S molar ratios 1/0.5 and 1/5, respectively.