Preparation of hierarchical CdS structures and effect of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) on the morphologies

Dendritic-like CdS and flower-like CdS structures have been prepared by hydrothermal method. The as-prepared CdS have been analyzed by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), ultraviolet–visible and room temperature photoluminescence (PL). And the photocatalytic activities also have been investigated. FESEM results indicate the role of SDBS is to make the CdS crystals assemble together. The optical energy band gap of dendritic-like CdS is 2.46 eV, and flower-like CdS is 2.48 eV. PL results show that dendritic-like CdS and flower-like CdS emit both blue and green fluorescence. Photocatalysis results show that the catalytic efficiency of dendritic-like CdS is better than flower-like CdS.