A composite photocatalyst of CdS nanoparticles deposited on TiO2 nanosheets

Abstract

A nanocomposite photocatalyst consisting of deposited CdS nanoparticles on TiO2 nanosheets was fabricated by a simple one-pot method. The contact between two phases was maximized by making a composite structure of TiO2 nanosheet decorated with CdS nanoparticles. The composite photocatalyst showed higher photoactivity for hydrogen production from aqueous Na2S/Na2SO3 solution and decomposition of methylene blue under visible light irradiation (lambda >= 420 nm) compared with single component CdS nanoparticles or a physical mixture of CdS nanoparticles and TiO2 nanorods. The intentional formation of nanoscale heterojunctions between two phases appears beneficial for inducing an efficient electron-hole separation.