Controllable incorporation of CdS nanoparticles into TiO2 nanotubes for highly enhancing the photocatalytic response to visible light

A constant current electrochemical deposition was employed to incorporate CdS nanoparticles into the TiO2 nanotube arrays (TiO2NTs). The size and amount of CdS nanoparticles in TiO2NTs (CdS@TiO2NTs) were controllable via modulating current, deposition time and electrolyte concentration. It was revealed, from the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) in depth profile, that CdS nanoparticles were filled into TiO2 nanotubes. A shift of the absorption edge toward the visible region under the optimal electrodeposition condition was observed with the diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). A 5-fold enhancement in the photocurrent spectrum for TiO2NTs was observed and the photocurrent response range was significantly extended into the visible region because of the CdS incorporation. Compared with pure TiO2NTs, under a visible light irradiation, CdS@TiO2NTs exhibited a 3.5-fold improvement of photocatalytic activity, which was demonstrated by the photocatalytic decomposition of Rhodamine B (RhB).