The preparation and photocatalytic performance research of CdSe and wool ball-like GO/CdSe microspheres

Different morphologies of CdSe and GO (graphene oxide)/CdSe microspheres like wool ball and walnut shape have been made through hydrothermal method using CTAB as surfactant. X-ray diffractometer (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Raman spectra, and UV-vis absorption spectrum, were used to intensively investigate the structures, morphologies, chemical compositions and optical properties of CdSe and GO/CdSe microspheres. The results of XRD revealed that GO/CdSe microspheres have lead-zinc mineral structure. The results of XRD, EDS, XPS and Raman spectra showed that GO/CdSe microspheres were grown on GO sheets. Also UV-vis absorption spectrum indicated that GO/CdSe microspheres enhanced absorbance in UV light region and visible light region. Through comparative experiments, the results showed that pH = 4 is the optimal pH value for degrading Rhodamine B (RhB) solution. To study the photocatalytic performance of GO/CdSe microspheres, we catalyzed the degradation of RhB aqueous solution irradiated by visible light. The photocatalytic results showed that the wool ball-like GO/CdSe microspheres exhibited better photocatalytic activity than rough CdSe. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.