In situ fabrication of a novel CdS/ZnIn2S4/g-C3N4 ternary heterojunction with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic performance

Abstract

In this study, a novel g-C₃N₄-based ternary heterojunction was rationally designed and constructed by the in situ growth of ZnIn₂S₄ nanosheets and CdS nanoparticles onto the g-C₃N₄ nanosheets using a facile two-step oil-bath method. Through optimizing the proportion of ZnIn₂S₄ and CdS component, g-C₃N₄ nanosheets coupled with ZnIn₂S₄ nanosheets and CdS nanoparticles (denoted as CdS/ZnIn₂S₄/g-C₃N₄) exhibited obviously higher photocatalytic properties for RhB removal than the single-component and dual-component systems. Among the as-obtained ternary photocatalysts, it was found that the ternary CdS/ZnIn₂S₄/g-C₃N₄-0.2 photocatalyst displayed the optimum photocatalytic property (96%) within a short time (30 min), which was almost 27.42 and 1.17 times higher than that of pure g-C₃N₄ and binary ZnIn₂S₄/g-C₃N₄-0.7 composite. The excellent activity of the ternary CdS/ZnIn₂S₄/g-C₃N₄ heterostructure is assigned to the synergetic effects of CdS nanoparticles, ZnIn₂S₄ nanosheets and g-C₃N₄ nanosheets, which not only broaden the visible-light absorption range, but also improve the charge mobility and separation rate, thus boosting the visible-light-driven photocatalytic property of g-C₃N₄.