Preparation of crystallized mesoporous CdS/Ta2O5 composite assisted by silica reinforcement for visible light photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

A crystallized mesoporous CdS/Ta2O5 photocatalyst was prepared using an evaporation-induced self-assembly technology followed by crystallization at 850 degrees C in the presence of siloxane reagents and S2- ion-exchange. The as-prepared composite possesses large specific surface areas and thin crystallized pore walls, and thus exhibits a significantly enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution, which is twice as large as that of the amorphous mesoporous CdS/Ta2O5 and is nearly 4 times larger than that of the directly crystallized CdS/Ta2O5. This enhancement is attributed to the efficient utilization of photogenerated charges resulting from the synergistic effect of high crystallinity and well-fabricated mesostructures. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.