Photoactivity enhancement of the CdxZn1-xS nanoparticles by immobilizing on the graphene under visible light irradiation

The photocatalytic activity of semiconductor is strongly dependent on the efficient separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. In the present work, the graphene-immobilized CdxZn1-xS nanoparticles with a uniform and small diameter have been prepared by one-step solvothermal route. After dispersing CdxZn1-xS on the graphene surface well, the composites of CdxZn1-xS and graphenes show better photocatalytic activity than pure CdxZn1-xS nanoparticles. And the issue of photocorrosion, a disadvantage of CdxZn1-xS photocatalysts, has also been solved partly. The mechanisms on enhancement of photocatalytic activity were further investigated. Under visible light irradiation, photogenerated electrons of CdxZn1-xS can be transferred into the graphene, and the electron and hole was effectively separated, leading to the photoactivity enhancement. (C) 2013 Published by Elsevier B.V.