Harnessing Semiconductor Metal Chalcogenide Zr-Doped SnS₂ Thin Films for Advanced Oxidation and Environmental Remediation: Photoremediation of Antibiotic Ciprofloxacin Pollution

Ciprofloxacin (CIP) release in water sources is a worldwide concern due to its harmful impact on the health of the ecosystem. One approach to address this issue is photocatalytic antibiotic degradation in water systems using chalcogens in the form of thin films. In the current study, chemical bath deposition (CBD) technique was used to deposit the SnS₂ and Zr_1-xSn_xS₂ (x = 0.6) thin films. Using XRD, the structural characteristics of the thin films that were deposited were investigated. Analysis of the absorption spectra showed that the thin films possessed optical bandgaps of 3.7 and 4.3 for SnS₂ and Zr_1-xSn_xS₂ (x = 0.6), correspondingly. A range of parameters were examined, including starting CIP concentrations of 1, 3, 5, and 7 ppm, pH levels of 5, 7, and 11, and irradiation periods (30, 60, 90, and 120 min). The pseudo-second order and Langmuir models were employed to assess the kinetic process. The maximum CIP elimination efficacy was achieved at pH 5, with an initial CIP concentration of 1 ppm and irradiation time of 30 min for both SnS₂ and Zr_1-xSn_xS₂ (x = 0.6) thin films.