One-Step Carbothermal Synthesis of Robust CdS@BPCPhotocatalysts in the Presence of Biomass Porous Carbons

Low–cost biomass porous carbons (BPCs) were herein demonstrated as both reducing agents and material supports in the synthesis of robust CdS@BPCs photocatalysts through a simple one–step, solvent free and atom economic carbothermal reaction pathway. Due to the versatile functionality on surfaces of BPCs, the as–prepared CdS@BPCs exhibited excellent interface reaction activity and stability as photocatalysts for carbon dioxide (CO2) photoreduction and oxidative tetracycline (TC) degradation under visible irradiation. The considerably large surface area of BPCs (765 to 1005 m2 g−1) accounted for high CO2 adsorption affinity and TC adsorption, and thus the accessibility of guest molecules (CO2 and TC) to active interfaces of the photocatalysts was favorably promoted. In addition, mechanism study indicated that BPCs, functioned as electron reservoirs, greatly enhanced the separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers and the transportation of electrons due to improved conductivity, for which BPCs could be ...