Construction of ZnCdS/TiO2 Z-Scheme heterostructure with excellent photocatalytic performance for degradation of norfloxacin

In this study, the binary heterojunction photocatalyst of ZnCdS modified TiO2 nanorod arrays was successfully prepared by hydrothermal method and successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR). The ZCST-12 showed high removal efficiency (93.1%) of norfloxacin (NOR) within 90 min. The rate constant Kα was 0.0278 min−1 and the transient photocurrent density of ZCST-12 was up to 63 μA/cm2, which were 3.08 and 3.7 times higher than that of unmodified TiO2. The synergistic effect of ZnCdS and TiO2 broadens the range of light absorption, makes the absorption edge red shift, and greatly improves the light absorption and utilization ability of the material. The ZnCdS/TiO2 Z-scheme heterojunction greatly promotes the separation of electrons and holes and accelerates the carriers transport, preserves the strong redox ability of spatially separated holes and electrons, and effectively improves the photocatalytic performance. This study provides a simple method for preparing ZnCdS/TiO2 heterojunction photocatalyst.