Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2 Nanoparticles Sensitized by CuInS2 Quantum Dots

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In this paper, p -type CuInS 2 quantum dots are synthesized by a solvothermal route and incorporated with n -type TiO 2 nanoparticles by a thermal treatment process. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results indicate that the CuInS 2 quantum dots distribute uniformly and the size is ∼3.4 nm. Photocatalytic activities of the TiO 2 nanoparticles sensitized with the CuInS 2 quantum dots are evaluated by the degradation of the methyl orange aqueous solution under ultraviolet (UV) and visible (vis) light irradiation and show an enhanced performance, compared with the pure TiO 2 nanoparticles and the pure CuInS 2 quantum dots. Microstructural, morphological, and optical properties of the TiO 2 nanoparticles sensitized with the CuInS 2 quantum dots are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, TEM, and UV–vis absorption spectroscopy. Results indicate that the CuInS 2 quantum dots greatly enhance the absorption of UV and visible light due to the p – n heterojunction being constructed between p -type CuInS 2 quantum dots, and n -type TiO 2 nanoparticles. Effects of the mass ratio of the TiO 2 and CuInS 2 and the thermal treatment temperature on the photocatalytic activities of the TiO 2 nanoparticles sensitized with the CuInS 2 quantum dots are also investigated.