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Microwave-assisted synthesis of Zn x Cd1−x S–MWCNT heterostructures and their photocatalytic properties

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Abstract

The multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) wrapped with hexagonal wurtzite Zn x Cd1−x S nanoparticles with a uniform and small diameter have been prepared to form Zn x Cd1−x S–MWCNT heterostructures by microwave-assisted route using Zn(Ac)2, Cd(NO3)2, and thioacetamide as the reactants. The heterostructures have been characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, photoluminescence (PL) and PL excited lifetime. Despite the analogous size and configuration, the Zn x Cd1−x S–MWCNT (x = 0, 0.2, 0.5, 0.8, 1) with different Zn concentration exhibit composition-dependent absorption properties in the visible zone. The PL peak positions of Zn x Cd1−x S–MWCNT change gradually from ZnS–MWCNT to CdS–MWCNT. The Zn x Cd1−x S–MWCNT shows different photocatalytic activity towards the photodegradation of fuchsin acid under visible light illumination, photocatalytic activity of the Zn x Cd1−x S–MWCNT decreases gradually with the increase in the Zn concentration, the Zn0.2Cd0.8S–MWCNT possessed the best photocatalytic activity. After recycling thrice, the photocatalysts still have about 85% efficiency.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Anhui Provincial Natural Science Foundation (No. 070414179) and National Natural Science Foundation (No. 20901003) of the People’s Republic of China for financial support.

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Correspondence to Huaqiang Wu.

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Wu, H., Yao, Y., Li, W. et al. Microwave-assisted synthesis of Zn x Cd1−x S–MWCNT heterostructures and their photocatalytic properties. J Nanopart Res 13, 2225–2234 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-010-9981-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-010-9981-7

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