Fast,green and template-free method was appliedfor preparation of Zn1xCdxS nanoparticles (x¼0–1)
in water using 6 min microwave irradiation. Diffraction peaks in powder X-ray diffraction(XRD)
patterns of the nanoparticles gradually shift to lower angles with in crease in cadmium content.
AbsorptionedgesforZn1xCdxS nanoparticlesobtainedbyUV–visdiffusereflectancespectra(DRS)are
red-shiftedasthevalueof x increases.Scanningelectronmicroscopy(SEM)imagesdemonstratethat
the nanoparticlesarenearlyspherical.Photocatalyticdegradationofmethyleneblue(MB)onthe
nanoparticleswasevaluatedunderUVandvisiblelightirradiations.TheresultsindicatethatZn0.8Cd0.2S
nanoparticlesexhibitthehighestphotocatalyticactivityamongthepreparedsamples.Moreover,
observedfirst-orderrateconstantofthereactionundervisiblelightirradiationdecreaseswithincrease
in microwaveirradiationtimeappliedforpreparationofthenanoparticles.