Facile synthesis of well-dispersed Bi₂S₃ nanoparticles on reduced graphene oxide and enhanced photocatalytic activity

Highlights: • Well-dispersed Bi₂S₃ nanoparticles on reduced graphene oxide were prepared. • Poly(sodium-p-styrenesul-fonate) can maintain Bi₂S₃ small particle size. • The prepared composites inhibit the recombination of photogenerated charges. • The prepared composites exhibited better visible light photoactivity. - Abstract: Here we present a facile method for the synthesis of highly dispersed Bi₂S₃ nanoparticles (Bi₂S₃ NPs) with an average diameter of ca. 25 ± 3 nm on the surface of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) via a poly(sodium-p-styrenesul-fonate) (PSS) asisted hydrothermal process. Such synthetic strategy can avoid excess aggregates of Bi₂S₃ nanoparticles, meanwhile from effective interfacial contact between Bi₂S₃ nanoparticles and RGO nanosheets, and inhibit the recombination of photogenerated charges. The enhanced charge transfer properties were proved by photoluminescence (PL) measurement. The obtained Bi₂S₃ NPs/RGO composites showed more significant visible light photoactivity for the degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol and Rhodamine B than that pure Bi₂S₃ and the control sample prepared in the absence of PSS. The enhanced photocatalytic performance could be attributed to the synergistic effect of efficient separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, increased catalytic active sites and visible light utilization.