The effect of rGO on the enhancement of photocatalytic activity of the CdS nanorods

Abstract

This ensured the production of highly efficient photocatalytic activity for the CdS nanorods which were decorated with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) through the two-step hydrothermal route. The as-prepared samples came out fairly well as proved by the XRD, XPS results, Uv–visible spectra, and TEM analysis. The photocatalytic activity of the manufactured samples was evaluated as their capability to reduce the concentration of Methylene blue (MB) with the help of visible light. The surface area and the step-wise energy level structure of the samples enabled the degradation rate of MB dye to be increased to a figure of almost 91% in 180 min. These characteristics increased the adsorption performance of dye molecules and suppressed the recombination of charges in the photocatalyst. Furthermore, the incorporation of a reduced graphene oxide shell acted a vital role in safeguarding the internal CdS microspheres against photocorrosion. This composite exhibited remarkable reusability for its photocatalytic purposes. The enhanced ability to break down methylene blue molecules through light exposure can be explained by the greater capacity for these molecules to bind to the material, the ability to absorb light in the visible range, and the improved ability to transfer and separate charges. These improvements are a result of introducing a 2D rGO network.