Visible-light-driven zirconium oxide/cadmium sulfide nanocomposite for degradation of textile dyes

Nano-sized semiconductor photocatalysts are known for their promising and economical remediation approach to environmental pollution under visible light irradiation. In this study, a facile strategy was adopted to develop the zirconium oxide/cadmium sulfide nanocomposite through a co-precipitation method for degradation of three aromatic dyes under visible light. The synthesized photocatalyst was characterized using powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy, UV–Visible spectroscopy, Cyclic voltammetry, and Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The zirconium oxide/cadmium sulfide heterostructure nanocomposite was tested for photocatalytic degradation of Direct Violet-9, Methyl Violet, and Congo Red. The composite exhibited photocatalytic degradation efficiency of 95.5%, 91%, and 84% for Direct Violet-9, Methyl Violet, and Congo Red, respectively under visible light. The high degradation efficiency of the photocatalyst for multiple dyes was found to be mainly due to the suppression of charge carrier recombination.