Synthesis of CdS-decorated RGO nanocomposites by reflux condensation method and its improved photocatalytic activity

The cadmium sulfide nanoparticle-reduced graphene oxide (CdS/RGO) nanocomposite with intimate nano-interfacial contact was successfully prepared via a facile condensation process in dilute dimethylformamide (DMF) aqueous solution. Numerous CdS nanoparticles featuring a size of around 10 nm were homogeneously anchored on 2D nanosheets. During the formation of CdS/RGO nanocomposite, graphene oxide (GO) was transformed into RGO simultaneously. The solar-driven degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) was conducted to detect the activity of the as-prepared CdS/RGO nanocomposite. Significantly, the photocatalytic activity of CdS/RGO nanocomposite was almost three times higher than that of pure CdS. The charge transfer and photogenerated active hydroxyl radicals (ai...OH) were investigated to study the mechanism of excellent photocatalytic property. The synthetic method provided a valuable opportunity to fabricate large-scale novel graphene-based materials with superior catalytic activity.