Surface decorated CdxZn1−xS cluster with CdS quantum dot as sensitizer for highly photocatalytic efficiency

CdS quantum dot (QD)-decorated CdxZn1−xS cluster has been successfully synthesized by co-precipitation followed with hydrothermal method, which takes advantage of the photogenerated electrons from CdS QDs. Photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine.B (Rh.B) in the aqueous suspension has been employed to evaluate the visible induced photocatalytic activity of the CdS/CdxZn1−xS clusters. Quantum-sized CdS and CdxZn1−xS clusters alter the energy levels of the conduction and valence band edges in the coupled systems, which favor the interparticle electron transfer. In addition, CdS/CdxZn1−xS is believed to act in a cooperative manner by increasing the degree of charge carrier separation, hence improving the incident photon-to-electron conversion efficiency (IPCE) as well as the photocatalytic activity.