Construction of S-scheme CdS/g-C3N4 nanocomposite with improved visible-light photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue

Within moderate band gap, g-C3N4 and CdS are both promising visible light driven photocatalysts. However, their intrinsic high recombination rate of photo-induced electron-hole pairs along with the poor susceptibility in photocorrosion of CdS is main limitations hindering their practical application. In this study, the CdS/g-C3N4 composites with various weight ratios of CdS to g-C3N4 were solvothermal prepared from the dispersion of components, g-C3N4 and CdS, in ethanol. The physicochemical characterizations demonstrate the success in the fabrication of well-dispersed CdS nanoparticles in the g-C3N4 matrix. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the g-C3N4/CdS composite over the degradation of methylene blue under visible light was ascribed to the effective photo-induced electron-hole separation via the step scheme (S-scheme) pathway in which the main contribution of high oxidative hydroxyl radicals (•OH) was demonstrated. Furthermore, via S-scheme model, we also clarify the depletion of photo-induced holes on CdS which is ascribed as the reason for improvement in resistance to photocorrosion of composites.