Synthesis and enhanced photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4 hybridized CdS nanoparticles

Abstract

The highly effective g-C3N4 hybridized CdS photocatalysts were synthesized via a successive calcination and hydrothermal process. The as-prepared photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The photocatalytic performance of the C3N4/CdS nanocomposites was evaluated by the photodegradation of RhB under visible light irradiation. The results showed that photocatalytic ability of the C3N4/CdS nanocomposites was higher than that of pure C3N4 and CdS. The enhanced photocatalytic activity could be attributed to the high separation efficiency of the photo-excited electron-hole pairs. A possible mechanism of the photocatalytic degradation of RhB on C3N4/CdS nanocomposites was also proposed.