Synthesis and enhanced photocatalytic activity of the flower-like CdS/Zn3(PO4)2 Z-scheme hetero-nanostructures

Z-scheme hetero-structure photocatalysts for the transfer and separation efficiency of carriers are increasingly popular. CdS nanoparticles decorated three-dimensional (3D) flower-like Zn3(PO4)2 nanostructures were prepared through simple hydrothermal route and the precipitation methods. The CdS/Zn3(PO4)2 hetero-nanostructures were characterized through X-ray powder diffraction(XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectrum (FT-IR), UV-visible light spectroscopy(UV-Vis), the photoluminescence (PL) spectra and the photoelectrochemical measurements. The results showed the three-dimensional flower-like structure of Zn3(PO4)2 was composed of two-dimensional nanoplates and CdS/Zn3(PO4)2 hetero-nanostructures was obtained. The results of the Mott-Schottky measurements and the active species trapping experiments suggested that Z-scheme system between CdS nanoparticles and Zn3(PO4)2 nanoplates was formed. Meanwhile, CdS/Zn3(PO4)2 hetero-nanostructures exhibited the much higher photocatalytic activity for the degradation of MB under visible light, and CdS/Zn3(PO4)2-13 hetero-nanostructures with excellent photocatalytic stability is nearly 3.04 times higher than that of pure Zn3(PO4)2 nanostructures.