Visible-light photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange by CdS–TiO2–Au composites synthesized via microwave-assisted reaction

CdS–TiO2–Au composites were synthesized via microwave-assisted reaction of CdS precursor and chloroaurate solution with TiO2 suspension using a microwave system. The photocatalytic performance of CdS–TiO2–Au composites in degradation of methyl orange was investigated. The results show that CdS–TiO2–Au composites exhibit an enhanced photocatalytic performance with maximum degradation rate of 98% under visible light irradiation as compared with pure TiO2 (43%) and CdS–TiO2 (80%) composite due to the increased light absorption intensity and the reduction of electron–hole pair recombination with the introduction of Au.