Nanoflower-like CdS and SnS2 loaded TiO2 nanotube arrays for photocatalytic wastewater treatment and hydrogen production

In this work, nanoflower-like CdS/SnS2/TiO2 NTs ternary heterojunction photocatalysts were synthesized by a hydrothermal method, the relationship between the morphology, microscopic morphology, crystallinity, elemental presence state and hydrogen production performance of the ternary photocatalysts were investigated by SEM, TEM, XRD and XPS, respectively. The photocatalytic performance, electrochemical property and hydrogen production capacity of CdS/SnS2/TiO2 NTs were compared with pure TiO2 NTs, CdS/TiO2 NTs and SnS2/TiO2 NTs. After 2 h of photocatalytic reaction, the removal efficiency of MB wastewater reached 100%, and the photocatalytic efficiencies toward RhB and Cr(VI) removal reached 86.08% and 80.93% after 3 h, respectively. The electron spin resonance (ESR) technique certified the active radical groups that played a role in the catalytic process and further investigated the possible photocatalytic mechanism. Hydrogen production per unit time achieved 97.14 mu mol h(-1) cm(-2), this work provides the new technique to achieve solar energy conversion for hydrogen generation.

Automated summary

Nanoflower-like CdS/SnS2/TiO2 NTs ternary heterojunction photocatalysts were synthesized by hydrothermal method, and the relationship between morphology, microscopic morphology, crystallinity, elemental presence state and hydrogen production performance was investigated. The photocatalytic performance, electrochemical property and hydrogen production capacity were compared with other NTs. The results showed high removal efficiency for MB wastewater and good photocatalytic efficiencies for RhB and Cr(VI) removal. The ESR technique confirmed the active radical groups and investigated the photocatalytic mechanism. Hydrogen production rate achieved 97.14 μmol h(-1) cm(-2), demonstrating a new technique for solar energy conversion.