Graphitic C3N4/CdS composite photocatalyst: Synthesis, characterization and photodegradation of methylene blue under visible light

Abstract

Design and development of heterojunction photocatalysts is one among the main strategies for improving the photocatalytic activity of semiconductor materials. Here, we report the synthesis of a heterojunction photocatalyst by the embedment of cadmium sulphide (CdS) nanoparticles on the surface of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C<inf>3</inf>N<inf>4</inf>) layers through hydrothermal approach. The g-C<inf>3</inf>N<inf>4</inf>/CdS heterojunction photocatalyst exhibited two-fold and three-fold enhancement in the photodegradation efficiency in comparison to pristine CdS and g-C<inf>3</inf>N<inf>4</inf>, respectively in the removal of 20 ppm methylene blue dye molecules under visible light irradiation. The enhanced photocatalytic activity can be attributed to the formation of heterojunction and the synergistic effect of g-C<inf>3</inf>N<inf>4</inf> and CdS in the promotion of charge separation and charge mobility that was tracked through photoluminescence spectroscopy. © 2020 Elsevier B.V.