Synthesis of a hierarchical SnS2 nanostructure for efficient adsorption of Rhodamine B dye

Using Sn 2+ instead of Sn 4+ as Sn source, H 2 O 2 as oxidizer, and l -cysteine as sulphur source and structure-directing agent, hierarchical SnS 2 nanostructure built with the thickness of 10   nm nanosheets was successfully synthesized by a green hydrothermal process. The morphology and structure of the products were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) and Elemental mapping, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The as-prepared nanostructured SnS 2 nanomaterials were tested for adsorption of Rhodamine B (RhB) from aqueous solution. The effects of contact time, adsorbent dosage and initial concentration were investigated in detail. The adsorption kinetic data were well fitted to the pseudo-second-order model and the equilibrium adsorption data were well described by the Langmuir isotherm model, with a maximum capacity of 200.0   mg   g −1 . This study provides a novel approach to obtain metal sulfide nanostructures using low-valence metal salts.