Cu2Sn1−xGdxS3 thin films for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue

Thin films of Cu2Sn1−xGdxS3 were prepared on soda-lime glass substrates using spin coating in a sulfur-rich environment. We investigated how doping Cu2SnS3 with gadolinium (Gd) affected its structural, morphological, and optical properties using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and UV-Vis spectroscopy. XRD showed that all samples had a polycrystalline monoclinic structure, while FE-SEM revealed a mix of spherical and polygon-shaped grains. Optical analysis indicated an energy gap ranging from 2.10 to 1.50 eV, increasing with higher Gd content. The films exhibited increasing transmittance with longer wavelengths in the UV-Vis region. When tested for photocatalytic activity, the Cu2Sn1−xGdxS3 films effectively degraded methylene blue (MB) dye under visible light within 220 minutes. The Cu2Sn0.25Gd0.75S3 film showed the highest degradation efficiency (90.77%) with a rate constant (k) of 0.093 min−1. Adjusting the pH of the dye solution improved the performance, reaching 90.77% degradation efficiency at pH 10, compared to 41.25% and 61.94% at pH 4 and 7, respectively. Tests with scavengers EDTA-Na, IPA, and BQ resulted in degradation efficiencies of 61.78%, 78.24%, and 43.56%, respectively, highlighting that the highest efficiency (90.77%) occurred without scavengers. The results show promising potential for these films in treating pollutants in industrial and domestic wastewater systems.