In this work, Mn-doped ZnS quantum dots capped by L-cysteine (Mn@ZnS/L-cyst) and polyethylene glycol (Mn@ZnS/PEG) and also Mn-doped ZnS on zeolite NaY (Mn@ZnS/Y) were synthesized. These compounds were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and ultraviolet-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy. Then, the photodegradation ability of these three photocatalysts was investigated for degradation of 4′,5′-dibromofluorescein dye under ultraviolet irradiation. In the next stage, the different effective parameters on degradation performance, such as pH, catalyst dosage, and initial dye concentration, were studied. Results demonstrated that the optimum initial concentration was 40 mg L−1 for all three catalysts. The optimum catalyst dosage for both Mn-doped ZnS quantum dots capped by L-cysteine and Mn-doped ZnS on zeolite NaY was 0.017 g L−1 and for Mn-doped ZnS quantum dots capped by polyethylene glycol was 0.033 g L−1. The degradation efficiency of 97% for all three photocatalysts was achieved; therefore, by considering the higher production yield of quantum dots onto zeolite and also the more convenient recovery of the Mn-doped ZnS on zeolite NaY from the solution, it seems synthesis of quantum dots onto the zeolites is a reasonable strategy.
