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In-situ synthesis of CdS/g-C3N4 hybrid nanocomposites with enhanced visible photocatalytic activity

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Abstract

A novel and simple in situ synthetic strategy was used to fabricate CdS/g-C3N4 hybrid nanocomposite catalysts with visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity from cadmium-containing carbon nitride compounds. X-ray diffraction measurements, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy images, and Fourier transform infrared spectra showed heterojunctions with a close interface between the g-C3N4 and the CdS nanoparticles and nanorods in the composite. Ultraviolet visible diffuse reflectance spectra exhibited a red shift that further presented the CdS in the polymer g-C3N4 skeleton, which allowed the efficient utilization of the solar spectrum for creating photogenerated electrons and holes. The photoluminescence spectra of the nanocomposites suggested charge transfer from g-C3N4 to CdS. The photocurrent intensity of hybrid nanocomposites was 2.3 times than that of pure g-C3N4 sample, and photocatalytic activity for the photodegradation of methyl orange was 2.5 times, and hydrogen evolution reaction was 2.8 times. Enhanced photocatalytic activity and photocurrent for the CdS/g-C3N4 hybrid nanocomposites were achieved.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by NSF of China (Grant No. 21363027) and the Scientific Research Foundation of GuangXi University (Grant No. XGZ130765).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering of Guangxi University, Nanning, 530005, China

    Zhang L. Fang, Huang F. Rong, Zhou L. Ya & Pang Qi

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  1. Zhang L. Fang
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  2. Huang F. Rong
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  4. Pang Qi
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Correspondence to Pang Qi.

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Fang, Z.L., Rong, H.F., Ya, Z.L. et al. In-situ synthesis of CdS/g-C3N4 hybrid nanocomposites with enhanced visible photocatalytic activity. J Mater Sci 50, 3057–3064 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-015-8865-8

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