Enhanced photocatalytic activity of TiO2/SiO2–CdS nanocomposite under direct sunlight for degradation of methylene blue

Abstract

The TiO2 NPs is a common used multifunctional material, because of its wide variety of application. While numerous natural mixes can be deteriorated and mineralized by oxidation and diminishment forms alluring on the surface of TiO2. A novel photocatalytic TiO2/SiO2–CdS nanocomposite were successfully preparation of sol–gel method and hydrothermal method. The developed nanocomposite was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy; UV–Visible Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), Field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The TiO2/SiO2–CdS nanocomposite has been used in the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye under direct sunlight measured by UV–Visible spectroscopy. CdS NPs homogeneous surface exposure on the surface of TiO2/SiO2 nanocomposite was highly enhancing photocatalytic dye degradation of methylene blue.