Immobilization of CdS Nanoparticles Formed in Reverse Micelles onto Alumina Particles and Their Photocatalytic Properties

CdS nanoparticles, prepared in a reverse micellar system, were immobilized onto thiol-modified commercial-grade alumina (Al 2 O 3 −SH) by a simple operation. The resulting composite, Al 2 O 3 −CdS, could be utilized as a photocatalyst for the generation of H 2 from 2-propanol aqueous solution. The better stability of CdS nanoparticles against photoirradiation was obtained with Al 2 O 3 −CdS than with silica-immobilized CdS nanoparticles (SiO 2 −CdS). The photocatalytic activity of Al 2 O 3 −CdS was affected by the quantity of CdS on Al 2 O 3 −CdS, and the quantity of the thiol groups on alumina particles.