Synthesis of 3D mesoporous alumina from natural clays for confining CdS nanoparticles and enhanced photocatalytic performances

Abstract

Abstract A spatial confinement effect of CdS nanoparticles in mesoporous alumina, which is synthesized through evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) method, post-impregnation approach and microwave irradiation process, was investigated to verify the enhanced catalytic activity and stability with less aggregation of CdS crystallites during decoloration of organic dyes under visible-light irradiation. In this work, we utilize inexpensive natural clays for preparing mesoporous alumina via evaporation-induced self-assembly method, and used as the host for confining CdS nanoparticles to suppress the crystallite growth and aggregation. The loading amount and grain size of CdS nanoparticles significantly altered catalytic activity and stability. CdS clusters confined inside the mesoporous channels provided abundant reactive sites for photocatalytic reaction through spatial confinement effect, quantum size effect and sulfide-support interaction, thus greatly enhancing the reaction activity. CdS/MAl composites have large special surface area, strong visible light absorption and high quantum yields. CdS/MAl-25 photocatalyst has exhibited remarkably enhanced visible light photoactivities as compared to other catalysts, and the overall decoloration rate was up to 97.5% after visible light irradiation for 60 min. The CdS/MAl composites exhibit potential applications in the wastewater treatment under visible light irradiation.