Nanoflower-like CdS and SnS2 loaded TiO2 nanotube arrays for photocatalytic wastewater treatment and hydrogen production

In this work, nanoflower-like CdS/SnS 2 /TiO 2 NTs ternary heterojunction photocatalysts were synthesized by a hydrothermal method, the relationship between the morphology, microscopic morphology, crystallinity, elemental presence state and hydrogen production performance of the ternary photocatalysts were investigated by SEM, TEM, XRD and XPS, respectively. The photocatalytic performance, electrochemical property and hydrogen production capacity of CdS/SnS 2 /TiO 2 NTs were compared with pure TiO 2 NTs, CdS/TiO 2 NTs and SnS 2 /TiO 2 NTs. After 2 h of photocatalytic reaction, the removal efficiency of MB wastewater reached 100%, and the photocatalytic efficiencies toward RhB and Cr(VI) removal reached 86.08% and 80.93% after 3 h, respectively. The electron spin resonance (ESR) technique certified the active radical groups that played a role in the catalytic process and further investigated the possible photocatalytic mechanism. Hydrogen production per unit time achieved 97.14 μmol h −1 cm −2 , this work provides the new technique to achieve solar energy conversion for hydrogen generation. • The CdS/SnS 2 /TiO 2 nanotube arrays photocatalyst with remarkable photocatalytic performance was prepared. • The CdS/SnS 2 /TiO 2 NTs exhibited fascinating ability of photocatalytic wastewater treatment. • The CdS/SnS 2 /TiO 2 NTs photoelectrodes displayed the attractive photocatalytic H 2 production. • Carrier transfer mechanism was discussed and Z–II–Scheme heterojunction is proposed.