Preparation and enhanced photocatalytic activity of CdS@RGO core–shell structural microspheres

Abstract Reduced graphene oxide (RGO) wrapped CdS microspheres with enhanced photocatalytic activity were successfully synthesized via a two-step hydrothermal method. The as-prepared samples were carefully characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectrometer. The photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared samples was evaluated by photocatalytic decolorization of Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation. Due to its large surface area and stepwise structure of energy level, which result in the efficiently enhancing of the adsorption performance of dye molecules and suppressing of the charge recombination of photocatalytst, a remarkably enhanced degradation rate of RhB dye about 95.2% within 50 min has been observed. In addition, the introduction of the graphene shell could effectively protect the internal CdS microsheres from photocorrosion, and the composite showed an excellent recyclability property for its photocatalytic applications.