Synergistic interaction of three-dimensional ZnCdS@MoS2 heterostructures for high-efficiency visible-light photocatalytic degradation of dyes

High-performance photocatalysts should urgently be developed to efficiently solve serious environmental problems. Herein, we successfully synthesized a novel, visible-light activated, three-dimensional ZnCdS@MoS2photocatalyst using a simple, two-step hydrothermal process. Based on reaction time-dependence, the growth mechanism of “oriented attachment” of the ZnCdS@MoS2heterostructure is described in detail. The photodegradation of methylene blue(MB) indicated that the prepared sample has an outstanding photocatalytic activity owing to the accelerated photogenerated electron production rate, inhibited electron–hole pair recombination,improved visible light–utilization rate, and increased specific surface area. According to our experimental results,the degradation rate of MB using the ZnCdS@MoS2nanocomposite was as high as 99.3% after 100 min of visible-light irradiation. The photocatalyst remained stable without any obvious decrease in activity even after three cycles of use. This study provides a strong support for the design of high-performance photocatalysts and their application in optoelectronic devices.