Fabrication of CdS and CuWO4 modified TiO2 nanoparticles and its photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation

CdS and CuWO4 modified TiO2 nanoparticles (CdS–CuWO4-TiO2) were prepared by the chemical impregnation method. The as-prepared nanoparticles were characterized using UV–visible-diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–vis-DRS), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and B.E.T. surface area analysis techniques. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated based on the degradation of a dye (eosin-Y) and inactivation of a bacterium (Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The results revealed that CdS–CuWO4-TiO2 showed high photocatalytic activity over CdS-TiO2, CuWO4-TiO2 and TiO2. Moreover the reusability and stability of the photocatalyst for the degradation of eosin-Y was also studied.