Assembly,characterization, and photocatalytic activities of TiO2 nanotubes/CdS quantum dots nanocomposites

The semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) can be very efficient to tune the response of photocatalyst of TiO₂ to visible light. In this study, CdS QDs formed in situ with about 8 nm have been successfully deposited onto the surfaces of TiO₂ nanotubes (TNTs) to form TNTs/CdS QDs nanocomposites by use of a simple bifunctional organic linker, thiolactic acid. The diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) spectra of as prepared samples showed that the absorption edge of the TNTs/CdS composite is extended to visible range, with absorption edge at 530 nm. The photocatalytic activity and stability of TNTs/CdS were also evaluated for the photodegradation of rhodamine B. The results showed that when TNTs/CdS QDs was used, photocatalytic degradation of RhB under visible light irradiation reached 91.6%, higher than 45.4 and 30.5% for P25 and TNTs, respectively. This study indicated that the TNTs/CdS QDs nanocomposites were superior catalysts for photodegradation under visible light irradiation compared with TNTs and P25 samples, which may find wide application as a powerful photocatalyst in environmental field.