Fabrication of ZnWO4-CdS heterostructure photocatalysts for visible light induced degradation of ciprofloxacin antibiotics

• ZnWO4-CdS heterostructure photocatalyst has been successfully prepared by hydrothermal method.
• The as-prepared photocatalyst reduces recombination of photo-generated electrons and holes.
• ZnWO4-CdS composite photocatalyst shows remarkable photocatalytic activity and stability.

ZnWO4-CdS heterostructure photocatalysts have been successfully synthesized by hydrothermal method with assembling CdS on the surface of ZnWO4. The obtained composite photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Raman, thermo-gravimetric analysis, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, photoluminescence and photocurrent measurement. The results show that the interface between ZnWO4 and CdS is well formed, and the CdS nanoparticles are uniformly distributed onto ZnWO4 nanorods which could facilitate charge transfer and reduce recombination of photo-generated electrons and holes. Compared with pure ZnWO4 and CdS, the as-prepared heterostructure photocatalysts exhibit excellent photostability and photodegradation ability of ciprofloxacin (CIP) under visible light irradiation.

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