Electrostatic self-assembly of CdS nanowires-nitrogen doped graphene nanocomposites for enhanced visible light photocatalysis

CdS nanowires-nitrogen doped graphene (CdS NWs-NGR) nanocomposites have been fabricated by an electrostatic self-assembly strategy followed by a hydrothermal reduction. The CdS NWs-NGR exhibits higher photoactivity for selective reduction of aromatic nitro organics in water under visible light irradiation than blank CdS nanowires (CdS NWs) and CdS nanowires-reduced graphene oxide (CdS NWs-RGO) nanocomposites. The enhanced photoactivity of CdS NWs-NGR can be attributed to the improved electronic conductivity due to the introduction of nitrogen atoms, which thus enhances the separation and transfer of charge carriers photogenerated from CdS NWs. Our work could provide a facile method to synthesize NGR based one-dimensional (1D) semiconductor composites for selective organic transformations, and broaden the potential applications for NGR as a cocatalyst.