Design and synthesis of a new high-efficiency CeO2/SnS2/polyaniline ternary composite visible-light photocatalyst

Fabrication of heterojunction composites is an effective means for raising the photocatalytic efficiency of semiconductors. Based on the previous reports that any two substances among CeO2, SnS2 and polyaniline (PANI) can constitute heterojunction, this work employed both CeO2 and PANI to couple SnS2 with the objective of synthesizing a new high-efficiency CeO2/SnS2/PANI ternary composite visible-light photocatalyst. CeO2/SnS2/PANI ternary nanocomposite was prepared via an easy to implement three-step method. For the visible-light-induced catalytic reduction of aqueous Cr(VI), our synthesized CeO2/SnS2/PANI showed higher photocatalytic activity than ternary mechanical mixture, CeO2/SnS2, SnS2, CeO2, and the previously reported CPVC/SnS2/TiO2, SnO2/SnS2/CPVC and SnS2/Au visible-light photocatalysts. The boosted photocatalytic activity of CeO2/SnS2/PANI was attributed to its enhanced transfer and separation of photogenerated charge carriers, which was resulted from the heterojunction formation between any two components. This work is helpful for the design and synthesis of new high-efficiency ternary composite visible-light photocatalysts.