Synthesis, characterization, and visible photocatalytic performance of Zn2GeO4 nanobelts modified by CdS quantum dots
Xiao-Liang Mao, Dong-Xing Xu, Ming-Lai Fu*, Baoling Yuan, Jian-Wen Shi, Hao-Jie Cui
Zn2GeO4 nanobelts modified by CdS quantum dots (Zn2GeO4 /CdS) were prepared successfully by chemical bath deposition. The novel photocatalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. It was found that Zn2GeO4 /CdS consisted of uniform rhombohedral phase Zn2GeO4 /CdS nanobelts with highly dispersed cubic phase CdS quantum dots, and the Zn2GeO4 /CdS exhibited strong visible light absorption at about 510 nm. The photocatalytic activities of the catalysts were evaluated by the discoloration of Rhodamine B under visible light illumination and were compared with that of pure Zn2GeO4 /CdS nanobelts. The results suggested that the composite photocatalyst had much higher photocatalytic activities than pure Zn2GeO4 /CdS nanobelts under irradiation of visible light. Meanwhile, no obvious deactivation of Zn2GeO4 /CdS was observed after the three recycles experiments in photodegradation of RhB. The possible mechanism of visible light photocatalytic degradation is also proposed.
Key words:Zn2GeO4,CdS,Photocatalysis,Visible light,Rhodamine B
Volume:
Page:73–80
Journal:Chemical Engineering Journal