The aim of this study is to functionalize an Algerian halloysite clay (kaolin Djebel Debbagh, HKDD3) with FeS nanoparticles by employing a hydrothermal approach and exploring its ability to remove methylene blue under visible light irradiation. The FeS-HKDD3 photocatalyst was synthesized successfully and exhibited good crystallinity. Different techniques were used to characterize the produced photocatalyst, including XRD, STEM/EDS, TEM, BET, and UV–vis DRS in order to investigate its structure, morphology, and optical performance. The HKDD3 is a natural halloysite having a tubular shape with a length ranging from 500 nm to several micrometers and a diameter that is estimated from 50 to 100 nm. The iron sulfide nanoparticles are immobilized as cube aggregates on the surface of the halloysite. The visible range displayed a strong absorption of the obtained photocatalyst, with an estimated bandgap of 1.60 eV, according to UV–vis DRS findings. The results exhibited a higher efficiency toward synergic adsorption-photocatalytic degradation effect for methylene blue dye removal.

中文翻译：

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阿尔及利亚埃洛石粘土（HKDD3）固定硫化铁的合成和表征，增强了从水介质中去除亚甲基蓝的能力

本研究的目的是通过采用水热方法，用 FeS 纳米粒子对阿尔及利亚埃洛石粘土（高岭土 Djebel Debbagh，HKDD3）进行功能化，并探索其在可见光照射下去除亚甲基蓝的能力。成功合成了FeS-HKDD3光催化剂并表现出良好的结晶度。使用不同的技术来表征所生产的光催化剂，包括 XRD、STEM/EDS、TEM、BET 和 UV-vis DRS，以研究其结构、形态和光学性能。HKDD3是一种天然埃洛石，具有管状形状，长度范围为500纳米至几微米，直径估计为50至100纳米。硫化铁纳米粒子作为立方体聚集体固定在埃洛石的表面上。根据紫外可见 DRS 结果，可见光范围显示出所获得的光催化剂的强吸收，估计带隙为 1.60 eV。结果表明，协同吸附-光催化降解效应对亚甲基蓝染料去除具有更高的效率。