Sonocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B in the presence of C60 and CdS coupled TiO2 particles

CdS-TiO2 and CdS-C60/TiO2 were prepared using C60, cadmium acetate dehydrate [(CH3COO)2Cd·2H2O], sodium sulfide (Na2S·5H2O) and titanium (IV) n-butoxide by a sol–gel method. The prepared sonocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A rhodamine B (RhB) solution under ultrasonic irradiation was used to determine the catalytic activity. Excellent catalytic degradation of an RhB solution was observed using the CdS-C60/TiO2 composites under ultrasonic irradiation. C60 coupled CdS-TiO2 can enhance the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area and increase the decolorization rate for rhodamine B solution. The results also shows that increase the content of CdS can enhance the catalytic activity.

► Degradation of Rh. B by ultrasonic irradiation in the presence of CdS/TiO2 and CdS-C60/TiO2 compounds was investigated in complete darkness. ► In this paper we compare the different between C60 coupled and uncoupled C60, and studied the role of C60 in the system. ► C60 places an important role for enhance surface area, improve the reaction state and so on. ► With the increase in the amount of CdS, the degradation rate of Rh. B solution also increased.