CdS embedded TiO2 hybrid nanospheres for visible light photocatalysis

A novel CdS/TiO2 hybrid for visible photocatalysis was prepared by solvent thermal processes. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis absorption spectroscopy (UV-vis), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). It was found that the cubic phase CdS nanoparticles (NPs) have been embedded and dispersed among anatase TiO2 NPs to form the uniform spheres with a size of similar to 150 nm. In comparison with pure TiO2, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy confirmed that the photoresponse of the prepared CdS/TiO2 hybrid NSs extended to the visible light region at about 470 nm. Meanwhile, the CdS may be reducing the contact with the external environment due to CdS embedded in the TiO2. As a result, compared to pure TiO2, CdS and the mixture of TiO2 and CdS, the CdS/TiO2 hybrid nanospheres (NSs) exhibited obviously enhanced photocatalytic activity in the decomposition of methyl orange under visible light irradiation. The mechanism of photocatalysis on CdS/TiO2 NSs under visible light is also discussed. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.