TWO DIMENSIONAL BiVO₄-CdS NANO COMPOSITES FOR PHOTOCATALYTIC DYE DEGRADATION

Abstract BiVO 4 nanosheet and CdS nanoparticle composites were prepared by hydrothermal method. Characterization were done by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), UV-Visible Spectroscopy (UV) and UV-Visible Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS). By the decolorization of methylene blue, the photocatalytic activity of BiVO 4 -CdS composites was inspected. Different nano composites of BiVO 4 -CdS with different weight ratio studied were CS/BV-25, CS/BV-50, CS/BV-75 and CS/BV-100. Among different BiVO 4 -CdS composites, CS/BV-75 nano composite performed superior photocatalytic activity which is proved by scavenger test. The outstanding photocatalytic activity of CS/BV-75 composites was further proved by a photoluminescence investigation of coumarin. By creating a composite with CdS, electron-hole recombination is reduced, resulting in increased photocatalytic activity.