Synergistic role of self-induced CdIn2S4nanopyramid sacrificial layer for the enhanced photocatalytic activity of TiO2nanotube-based chalcogenide heterostructures

Khaliq N, Ullah H, Rasheed MA, Xie Y, Khan M, Imran M, Schmuki P, Ali G (2026)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2026

Journal

Journal of Materials Chemistry A Royal Society of Chemistry

Book Volume: 14

Pages Range: 5137-5156

Journal Issue: 9

DOI: 10.1039/d5ta05742f

Abstract

A simple treatment was employed to obtain a novel design of a highly stable visible light responsive In2S3/CdS/TiO2 nanotube-based photocatalyst for H2 production. At first, In2S3/CdS/TiO2 nanotubes were fabricated by incorporating CdS and In2S3 quantum dots (QDs) onto TiO2 nanotubes (TNTs) via a chemical bath deposition method. In the second step, a portion of the QDs layer (CdS and In2S3) was converted into a layer of CdIn2S4 pyramid-like structure by thermal treatment of In2S3/CdS/TNTs in an Ar environment (Ar-In2S3/CdS/TNTs). The photocatalytic performances of the different heterostructure assemblies (simple and Ar-treated samples) were tested. The incorporation of CdS and In2S3 QDs significantly improved the visible response, showing higher photocurrent density and H2 production rate (0.5694 mL h−1 cm−2) values. Furthermore, the outer layer of CdIn2S4 improved the photostability of In2S3/CdS/TNTs and further boosted the H2 evolution rate (0.6281 mL h−1 cm−2). The apparent quantum yields (AQYs) of Ar-In2S3/CdS/TNTs at 450 nm and 632 nm LED were 5.54% and 13.57%, respectively. The higher photocurrent density and lower charge transfer resistance suggest that the structure of the Ar-In2S3/CdS/TNTs photoanodes provides efficient charge carrier separation and interfacial charge transport properties. Dye degradation of methylene blue using Ar-In2S3/CdS/TNTs showed complete degradation of the dye within 22 min, which was 5 minutes lesser than that observed for In2S3/CdS/TNTs.

Authors with CRIS profile

Patrik Schmuki Lehrstuhl für Werkstoffwissenschaften (Korrosion und Oberflächentechnik) (LKO)

Involved external institutions

Pakistan Institute of Engineering & Applied Sciences (PIEAS) PK Pakistan (PK) Wuhan University of Technology CN China (CN) Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology PK Pakistan (PK) Islamic University of Madinah / الجامعة الإسلامية بالمدينة المنورة SA Saudi Arabia (SA)

How to cite

APA:

Khaliq, N., Ullah, H., Rasheed, M.A., Xie, Y., Khan, M., Imran, M.,... Ali, G. (2026). Synergistic role of self-induced CdIn2S4nanopyramid sacrificial layer for the enhanced photocatalytic activity of TiO2nanotube-based chalcogenide heterostructures. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 14(9), 5137-5156. https://doi.org/10.1039/d5ta05742f

MLA:

Khaliq, Nilem, et al. "Synergistic role of self-induced CdIn2S4nanopyramid sacrificial layer for the enhanced photocatalytic activity of TiO2nanotube-based chalcogenide heterostructures." Journal of Materials Chemistry A 14.9 (2026): 5137-5156.

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