Structure and optical property of CdS/niobate composite synthesized by exfoliation/self-assembly processing

CdS/niobate composite synthesized by exfoliation/self-assembly processing was first reported. The processing presents two steps, namely (i) restacking of [Ca2Nb3O10]nn− nanosheets in Cd(NH3)42+ solution and (ii) forming of CdS/niobate composite by adding Na2S to the (i) reacting system. The as-prepared composite of CdS/niobate can be indexed to tetrahedral symmetry (lattice parameters, a 5.462(5) Å; c 17.3303(1) Å) on basis of X-Ray powder diffraction result. The scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive spectrometer observation demonstrates the uniform distributions of Ca, Nb, O, Cd, and S elements in the particles. The UV–vis absorption edge of the CdS/niobate composite (CdS coated with host niobate) shows blue shift (shifts to high energy) compared with that of the uncoated CdS particles.