Photocatalytic degradation of organic dye on porous iron sulfide film surface.

Thin films of nanocrystalline and porous FeS(2) with marcasite phase have been deposited from a greenish-blue iron nitroprusside precursor film, which readily gives FeS(2) on reacting with an aqueous solution of sodium sulfide. High resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD) pattern indicated the formation of polycrystalline and orthorhombic (marcasite) phase of FeS(2), whereas the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) showed the morphology of the films to be consisted of grains of average 25 nm diameter with unevenly distributed numerous pores. Optical characterization (UV-Vis and photoluminescence) revealed significant amount of blueshift in the band gap energy of the deposited material, which is attributed to the strong quantum confinement effect exerted by the FeS(2) nanocrystals. The deposited FeS(2) films showed good photocatalytic activity toward the degradation of Rose Bengal dye and could be found efficient for wastewater treatment.