Fabrication of chrysanthemums like TiO₂@In₂S₃ S-scheme heterojunction nanostructures for the degradation of methylene blue dye present in aqueous solution

Removal of contaminants from water and wastewater has drawn interest from all over the world because of its enormous impact on the environment as well as the potential threat to human and other biological existence. As a result, the primary objective for humans is to have consistent access to upgraded and clean water sources. In this study, thioacetamide, titanium dioxide, and Indium (III) nitrate n-hydrate were used in the hydrothermal process to produce TiO₂@In₂S₃ hybrid material. The high purity of the TiO₂@In₂S₃ hybrid materials was shown by XRD analysis, UV-DRS has been utilized to study the optical properties of TiO₂@In₂S₃ hybrid materials and the In₂S₃ sample which reveals that they have a band gap between 1.71 and 1.88 eV. The stoichiometry of the hybrid materials TiO₂@In₂S₃ was confirmed by EDX analysis. Additionally, SEM examination displayed the TiO₂@In₂S₃ hybrid materials’ chrysanthemums morphology. The produced TiO₂@In₂S₃ hybrid materials exhibit complete degradation of MB dye pollutants within 60 min under an LED lamp. The photocatalytic decomposition of MB dye with TiO₂ β-In₂S₃ and TiO₂@In₂S₃ follows a pseudo-first-order process with rate constants of 2.88 × 10⁻³, 4.67 × 10⁻³, and 7.73 × 10⁻² min⁻¹, respectively. TiO₂ and β-In₂S₃ composites had a synergistic impact, and an appropriate S-scheme charge carrier mechanism was suggested, validating the composite as an economical and effective catalyst for environmental remediation.