Ultrasound-assisted growth of Zn0.2Cd0.8S nanoparticles on mesoporous P-doped graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets for superior photocatalytic activities

Highly-efficient visible light driven Zn 0.2 Cd 0.8 S/P-C 3 N 4 heterostructure were successfully synthesized via ultrasound-assisted growth route. The as-prepared Zn 0.2 Cd 0.8 S/P-C 3 N 4 nanocomposites consist of mesoporous P-C 3 N 4 nanosheets immobilized with homogeneously dispersed Zn 0.2 Cd 0.8 S NPs. The photocatalytic applications including photoreduction of 4-nitroaniline (4-NA) and water splitting were employed to evaluate their photocatalytic activities of prepared samples. The intimate interfacial contact between the Zn 0.2 Cd 0.8 S nanoparticles and the P-C 3 N 4 nanosheets endows these nanocomposite photocatalysts with superior visible light photocatalytic activity for both the 4-NA reduction and water splitting in comparison with pure Zn 0.2 Cd 0.8 S NPs and bare P-C 3 N 4 NSs, especially Zn 0.2 Cd 0.8 S/P-C 3 N 4 -80. In addition, we found that Zn 0.2 Cd 0.8 S/P-C 3 N 4 -80 sample possesses excellent stability towards selective reduction of 4-NA to 4-phenylenediamine (4-PDA) during the photocatalytic running experiments. We hope that our current research on the facile fabrication and applications of Zn 0.2 Cd 0.8 S/P-C 3 N 4 samples can provide some new insights in the design, synthesis and application of P-C 3 N 4 based nanocomposites.