Synthesis of nickel sulfide and nickel–iron sulfide nanoparticles from nickel dithiocarbamate complexes and their photocatalytic activities

Ni(dtc)₂] (dtc = N-(pyrrole-2-ylmethyl)-N-thiophenemethyldithiocarbamate ( 1 ), N-methylferrocenyl-N-(2-phenylethyl)dithiocarbamate ( 2 ), N-furfuryl-N-methylferrocenyldithiocarbamate ( 3 ), and (N-pyrrole-2-ylmethyl]-N-thiophenemethyldithiocarbamato-S,S′)(thiocyanato-N)(triphenylphosphine)nickel(II) ( 4 ) complexes were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared, ultraviolet–visible, and nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H and ¹³C) spectroscopies. The data were consistent with the formation of square planar nickel(II) complexes, which was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies on 2 and 4 . Fe···Fe interactions exhibited by complex 2 led to supramolecular aggregation. The structure of 4 reveals intermolecular and intramolecular C-H···Ni anagostic interactions. The anion-sensing properties of 2 were studied with halide ions by cyclic voltammetry. It was observed that 2 acts as sensor for bromide. Complexes 1 , 2 , and 3 , were utilized to prepare nickel sulfide, nickel–iron sulfide-1, and nickel–iron sulfide-2, respectively. The composition, structure, morphology, and optical properties of nickel sulfide and nickel–iron sulfides were examined using powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible, fluorescence, and infrared spectroscopy. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns of nickel sulfide, nickel–iron sulfide-1, and nickel–iron sulfide-2 indicate the formation of orthorhombic Ni₉S₈, cubic NiFeS₂, and cubic Ni₂FeS₄, respectively. The photocatalytic activities of as-prepared nickel sulfide and nickel–iron sulfide-1 nanoparticles were investigated for photodegradation of methylene blue and rhodamine-B under ultraviolet irradiation. Nickel–iron sulfide-1 nanoparticles show slightly higher photodegradation efficiency compared with the nickel sulfide nanoparticles.