Sonochemistry synthesis of nanocrystals embedded in a MoO3-CdS core-shell photocatalyst with enhanced hydrogen production and photodegradation

CdS nanocrystals embedded in MoO3-CdS core-shell nanospheres have been successfully synthesized by a sonochemistry method at room-temperature and normal pressure without using any templates or surfactants. The unique core-shell nanostructures play a key role which results in a large increase in the photocatalytic activity for hydrogen production and photodegradation. In particular, the rate of MoO3-CdS core-shell photocatalytic hydrogen yield reached 5.25 mmol h(-1) g(-1) and exhibited a high apparent yield (28.86% at 420 nm) of hydrogen production without noble metal co-catalysts. Moreover, the MoO3-CdS core-shell composites also showed a very high decomposition rate of Rhodamine B (RhB) under the irradiation of visible-light (lambda > 400 nm).