Analysis of the Photocatalytic Activity and Adsorption of CuS Nanoparticles Synthesized by Chemical Route for the Degradation of Organic Contaminants.

The treatment of industrial and domestic wastewater is an urgent environmental need. In this context, the photocatalytic activity of semiconductors offers a promising route for degrading organic contaminants. CuS nanoparticles were chemically synthesized using thiourea and copper sulfate in varying concentrations to investigate how precursor ratios affect the chemical composition, structural and morphological features, and optical-electronic properties. The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue under low-power visible light (10 W), without HO and using a low catalyst dose, showed promising results. Samples with lower sulfate content reached ∼78% degradation, while those with 0.20 M thiourea and 0.15-0.20 M sulfate achieved up to 99%. Mesoporous and macroporous structures (3.85-50 nm) promoted adsorption without hindering photocatalytic efficiency, indicating that, in certain samples, the combined morphological and electronic features enhanced dye removal.