Hierarchical microspheres: in situ assembly of CdS quantum dots on Cd 2 SnO 4 nanosheets with enhanced visible light photocatalytic properties

• Published in: RSC advances 2015, Vol.5 (102), p.83922-83930
• Main Authors: Zhang, Guimin, Fu, Zhengyi, Wang, Yucheng, Wang, Hao, Xie, Zheng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2046-2069; 2046-2069
• DOI: 10.1039/C5RA17679D

A CdS/Cd 2 SnO 4 composite was successfully synthesized via a one step solvothermal route synergistically assisted by l -cysteine and diethanolamine. The composite is composed of CdS quantum dots stuffed in hierarchical Cd 2 SnO 4 microspheres with a diameter of around 2 μm, which are assembled from nanosheets with a thickness of 20–50 nm. The band gap of the composite is 2.46 eV, which is higher than pure phase CdS and Cd 2 SnO 4 , due to the quantum size effect from CdS QDs. One possible formation mechanism of the composite is presented; the initial precipitation of Sn(OH) 2 serves as a template, and the complexes of l -cysteine coordinated with metal ion provide structural direction for the hierarchical microspheres. The CdS/Cd 2 SnO 4 composite showed superior adsorption ability and enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity in the degradation of RhB to CdS, Cd 2 SnO 4 , and Degussa P-25, due to its microstructure and the efficient charge separation at the interface of CdS and Cd 2 SnO 4 .