Facile Synthesis of (Mn, Ce)Co-Doped ZnS Nanocrystals for Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline

Tetracycline contamination of water poses a serious threat to human health and aquatic ecosystems, highlighting the need for remediation. This study investigates the potential of co-doping ZnS nanocrystals with Mn and Ce to enhance their photocatalytic performance for tetracycline removal by altering defect-related trap states and localized charge distribution, with the material synthesis being carried out using the facile chemical co-precipitation method. Pure, 2% Mn-doped, and (Mn, Ce)co-doped [(2% Mn, 1% Ce) and (2% Mn, 2% Ce)] ZnS nanocrystals were synthesized, followed by characterization via XRD, TEM, FE-SEM, EDX, XPS, FT-IR, UV–visible spectroscopy, and PL spectroscopy. Both Mn doping and (Mn, Ce) co-doping decreased crystallite size while increasing lattice strain and dislocation density. The band gaps fall in the 3.20–3.30 eV range. The Mn-doped and (Mn, Ce)co-doped ZnS exhibited a yellow–orange PL. The pure, 2% Mn-doped, (2% Mn, 1% Ce)co-doped, and (2% Mn, 2% Ce)co-doped ZnS nanocrystals degraded 45%, 64%, 89%, and 92% tetracycline after 300 min of simulated sunlight irradiation, respectively, with the (2% Mn, 2% Ce)co-doped ZnS nanocrystals degrading 85% tetracycline after 180 min. The (Mn, Ce)co-doped ZnS nanocrystals are cost-effective, efficient, and recyclable photocatalysts for the remediation of tetracycline pollutants.