Electrochemical construction of Z-scheme type CdS-Ag-TiO2 nanotube arrays with enhanced photocatalytic activity

The 2-scheme type CdS-Ag-TiO2 nanotube arrays were constructed by electrochemical methods. The self-organized highly oriented TiO2 nanotube arrays (TiO2NTs) were first prepared by anodizing Ti sheet. Subsequently, the Ag-CdS nanoparticles composed of Ag core and CdS shell were electrodeposited on the TiO2NTs. In the prepared three-component system, the Ag-CdS core-shell nanoparticles were well dispersed on the surface of anatase TiO2 nanotubes. This three-component system exhibited enhanced photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic activities, far exceeding those of the single- and two-component systems. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.