Synthesis and photocatalytic properties of core-shell TiO2@ZnIn2S4 photocatalyst

A novel core-shell TiO2@ZnIn2S4 composite has been synthesized successfully by a simple and flexible hydrothermal route using TiO2 as precursors. The as-synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra and transmission electron microscopy. The photocatalytic properties of samples were tested by degradation of aqueous methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation. It was found that the as-synthesized TiO2@ZnIn2S4 photocatalyst was more efficient than TiO2 and ZnIn2S4 in the photocatalytic degradation of MB. Moreover, TEM images confirmed the TiO2@ZnIn2S4 nanoparticles possessed a well-proportioned core-shell morphology. (C) 2013 Wen-Hui Yuan. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society. All rights reserved.