A novel route to the synthesis of CdS/& alpha;-Fe2O3 nanocomposite for enhanced photocatalytic performance

The sewage purification sector has not yet begun to grow. Indeed, low cost materials with stable and effective photocatalytic activity remain a goal for researchers. In this work, a novel CdS/& alpha;-Fe2O3 (CSH) core-shell structure has been created using a straightforward solid-state reaction. The mixture of & alpha;-Fe2O3 weight content was adjusted, and samples were described and tested for photocatalytic activity. The average crystallite sizes for all samples were found in the range of 54-60 nm. The Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy analysis showed the small peaks near 616 cm(-1) and 679 cm(-1) are assigned to Cd-S bond vibrations. Maximum photocatalytic activity was observed for CSH3 (20% & alpha;-Fe2O3 in the mixture) demonstrating the synergy between the two semiconductors for this activity. With this kind of construction, it is possible to use free solar energy, and it can be recycled with minimal mass loss using a straightforward magnetic bar.