Electrodeposition of CdS-TiO2 for the Photocatalytic Degradation of Ammonia-Nitrogen Wastewater

In this work, a simple, one-stage electrodeposition strategy was used to prepare a CdS-nanoparticlesensitized TiO2 (CdS-TiO2) nanotube array. TiO2 nanotubes sensitized by other narrow-band-gap semiconductors were also prepared using this distinct strategy. The CdS-TiO2 hybrid exhibited more desirable physical and chemical characteristics for photocatalytic activity with stronger visible-lightresponse capacity compared with the original TiO2 material. In comparison with the original TiO2, CdSe/TiO2, and CdTe/TiO2, the catalytic capacity of CdS-TiO2 to ammonia-nitrogen wastewater was higher. The maximum pH value for the CdS-TiO2-induced ammonia-nitrogen removal was 10. Nevertheless, inhibition effects on ammonia-nitrogen degradation were exhibited by all common inorganic ions: Mg2+, Ca2+, K+, Na+, HCO3-/CO32-, SO42-, NO3-, and Cl-.