Preparation and properties of CuO/ZnxCd1−xS photocatalysts

CuO/Zn0.384Cd0.616S was prepared by an impregnation method, and its structure and optical properties were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible diffuse-reflectance spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and their photocatalytic activity were evaluated based on photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) solution under visible light. The effects on photocatalytic degradation of the catalyst amount, MO concentration and pH were investigated. And the mechanism for enhancing the photocatalytic activity was also discussed. The results indicated that 0.5 wt% CuO/Zn0.384Cd0.616S showed the highest photocatalytic activity among the prepared samples. The mechanism for the degradation of MO occurring on the CuO/Zn0.384Cd0.616S surface differs from that on ZnxCd1−xS surfaces. The catalytic reaction under visible-light irradiation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics.