Preparation of indium-cadmium sulfide nanoparticles with diverse morphologies: Photocatalytic and cytotoxicity study

Abstract

Indium-cadmium sulfide (In2S3–CdS) nanoparticles were synthesized via solvothermal (product a) and hydrothermal routes (product b) with different morphologies. The photocatalytic efficiency of In2S3–CdS nanoparticles (a and b) was conducted for the degradation of rhodamine B. It was observed that photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B proceeds faster in the presence of product (a) as compare with product b. The degradation of rhodamine B follows first-order kinetics, product a shows higher rate constant (k) (0.0105 min−1) as compare to product b (0.0061 min−1). Moreover, the cytotoxicity of products (a and b) was studied against human colon cancer cell line (HCT116) and breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). The results revealed high cytotoxicity activity of In2S3–CdS (a) and (b) nanoparticles against HCT116 cells but low cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 cells. The preparation method can be utilized to prepare different semiconductors in the field of photocatalysis, electrocatalysis and biomedical applications.