Synthesis of TiO2 nanotubes coupled with CdS nanoparticles and production of hydrogen by photocatalytic water decomposition

The CdS/Tio(2)NTs composite was prepared by a simple two-step chemical solution routes to directly transfer trititanate nanotubes to Tio(2)NTs and simultaneously coupled with CdS nanoparticles. The results of XRD, TEM, Diffuse reflectance UV-Visible absorption spectra revealed that the CdS nanoparticles were homogeneously embedded on the surface of Tio(2)NTs and the absorption spectrum of Tio(2)NTs was extended to visible region. The activity of hydrogen production by photocatalytic water decomposition for the CdS/TiO2NTs composite was examined under visible light irradiation (lambda>400 nm) and the quantity of H-2 evolution was ca. 1708 mu L/g for 6 h. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.