Ag+ and Cu2+ doped CdS nanorods with tunable band structure and superior photocatalytic activity under sunlight

A series of Ag+ and Cu2+ doped CdS nanorods are prepared by varying their molar ratios (1 to 10 mol%) and evaluated for photooxidation of salicylaldehyde and photoreduction of m-dinitrobenzene under sunlight irradiation. The efficiency of CdS nanorods markedly improved with gradual doping, which is well explained in terms of tuning band edge potentials, crystal distortion, and homogeneous dispersion of charge carriers.