Photocatalytic Performance of Kaolin/Cu2CdSnS4 Composite Synthesized via Solvothermal Route

Cu2CdSnS4 (CCTS) has positioned itself as an efficient option used as a photocatalyst, while kaolin is an ideal catalyst carrier material. In the study, kaolin/Cu2CdSnS4 composite catalyst is effectively synthesized by a one-step solvothermal route and applied to remove methylene blue (MB), a typical pollutant in the textile industry. The structural, morphological, and photocatalytic properties of the composite catalyst are characterized by XRD, SEM, FTIR, PL, etc. The results show that a pure kaolin/Cu2CdSnS4 composite is obtained. The flower-like structure of Cu2CdSnS4 exhibits higher photocatalytic activity due to its relatively large specific surface area, while kaolin creates an ideal carrier. The band gap of the as-obtained kaolin/Cu2CdSnS4 composite is estimated to be 1.69 eV. MB’s degradation efficiency under simulated solar light irradiation is around 94% within 100 min, with a high rate constant of 0.03 min−1. The recyclability and stability of the composite are investigated. Eventually, the mechanism of photocatalysis was explained. This study depicts that kaolin/Cu2CdSnS4 composite is a potential material for effective solar light photocatalytic application.