CdS nanoparticles deposited on montmorillonite: Preparation, characterization and application for photoreduction of carbon dioxide

► CdS nanoparticles were precipitated by the reaction of cadmium acetate and sodium sulphide in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium. ► The nanoparticles of the cubic structure (Hawleite) were deposited on the montmorillonite external surface. ► The size of CdS nanoparticles was calculated from the band-gap energy (2.63 eV) at 7 nm. ► The micrographs of transmission electron microscopy showed CdS nanoparticles with the size of 5 nm. ► The CdS-montmorillonite composite was used for the photoreduction of carbon dioxide forming.