Solar light responsive photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline by RGO – CdS nanocomposite

Abstract

Herein we report the photocatalysis degradation of tetracycline (TC) using reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and cadmium sulfide (CdS) in composite form. We have synthesized the RGO - CdS composite through one pot single step solvothermal technique. The as-prepared composite was characterized structurally, morphologically and optically by XRD, TEM, UV-VIS and PL spectroscopy. The reduction of graphene oxide (GO) was confirmed by XPS and Raman spectroscopy. The RGO-CdS nanocomposite shows a notable photocatalytic performance towards the degradation of TC in compared to CdS nanorod under solar light irradiation. In the composite, RGO plays a decisive role towards efficient photo induced charge separation from the CdS, which subsequently decreases the electron-hole recombination possibility, and improves the photocatalytic activity of the RGO-CdS composite.