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Copper-Doped Zinc Sulfide Nanocrystals for Near-Ultraviolet and Visible-Light Driven Decomposition of Perfluoroalkyl Compounds

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dc.contributor.authorToyota, Y.
dc.contributor.authorSanada, Y.
dc.contributor.authorDay, M.L.
dc.contributor.authorMatthews, R.K.
dc.contributor.authorShearer, C.J.
dc.contributor.authorKobayashi, Y.
dc.date.issued2026
dc.description.abstractDeveloping methods capable of decomposing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) into fluoride ions under mild conditions would not only help mitigate the global PFAS contamination crisis but also provide a technological foundation for recycling fluorinated materials. Here, we show that zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanocrystals, an inexpensive, low-toxicity, and readily scalable semiconductor, can decompose perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), one of the most recalcitrant and strictly regulated PFASs, under both UV and near-visible light-emitting diode (LED) irradiation. Using acetate-capped ZnS nanocrystals, we achieve up to 62% overall defluorination after 24 h of 365 nm light irradiation. Moreover, visible-light-induced photocatalytic defluorination of PFOS was achieved by doping Cu ions into ZnS nanocrystals. Mechanistic studies suggest that both single-photon and higher-order reductive pathways contribute to PFOS defluorination, with transient absorption data being consistent with hydrated-electron formation under UV excitation. A continuous-flow photoreactor using ZnS nanocrystals maintained PFOS removal and measurable defluorination over several days. These results identify ZnS nanocrystals as promising photocatalysts for LED-driven PFAS degradation.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityYuto Toyota, Yusuke Sanada, Mabel L. Day, Rachael K. Matthews, Cameron J. Shearer and Yoichi Kobayashi
dc.identifier.citationACS Applied Nano Materials, 2026; 9(15):6679-6690
dc.identifier.doi10.1021/acsanm.6c00252
dc.identifier.issn2574-0970
dc.identifier.issn2574-0970
dc.identifier.orcidMatthews, R.K. [0009-0002-9761-7711]
dc.identifier.orcidShearer, C.J. [0000-0002-8192-3696]
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2440/150351
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherAmerican Chemical Society
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP250103235
dc.rights© 2026 American Chemical Society.
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.6c00252
dc.subjectzinc sulfide nanocrystal; PFAS decomposition; photocatalyst; near-UV and visible light; environmental remediation
dc.titleCopper-Doped Zinc Sulfide Nanocrystals for Near-Ultraviolet and Visible-Light Driven Decomposition of Perfluoroalkyl Compounds
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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