Enhanced photocatalytic properties of CdS nanoparticles decorated α-Fe2O3 nanopillar arrays under visible light

Abstract CdS nanoparticles (NPs) decorated α-Fe 2 O 3 nanopillar arrays (NPAs) were fabricated through several steps. Fe NPAs were firstly fabricated by glancing angle deposition technique and oxidized in air to gain α-Fe 2 O 3 NPAs. Then these NPAs were decorated by CdS NPs through successive ion layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR). Here we have tested photodegredation of methylene blue (MB) and photoelectrochemical properties under visible light. Especially, when SILAR cycle number reaches to 10, it shows the highest degradation efficiency (94% in 75 min on MB) which improves 72% comparing with pure one and the highest photocurrent density (2.0 mA cm −2 at 0.4 V vs Ag/AgCl electrode). α-Fe 2 O 3 /CdS hetero-junctions could greatly enhance photocatalytic performance, which can help to accomplish sufficient usage of solar energy and be exploited on pollution abatement in future.