One-pot Preparation of CoS/CuS Nanocomposite-sensitized TiO2 Nanorod Arrays with Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Performance

Transition metal sulfides are widely used for the modification of TiO2 to improve its light absorption range due to their small bandgaps. In this work, novel CoS/CuS/TiO2 was synthesized via a simple one-pot hydrothermal preparation method. Using various characterization techniques, CoS/CuS/TiO2 was found to demonstrate excellent photoelectrochemical performance and photocatalytic activity for the degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride. The CoS/CuS/TiO2 catalyst showcased a maximum photocurrent density of 55 μA cm−2, which was 7.8 times higher than that of unmodified TiO2 nanorods. Under visible light irradiation using Xe lamp, the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of CoS/CuS/TiO2 on tetracycline hydrochloride was found to be significantly improved, where it recorded an excellent degradation rate of 64.0% at 90 min. The charge transfer mechanism of the proposed material was also investigated.