Crystal Design and Photoactivity of TiO(2) Nanorod Template Decorated with Nanostructured Bi(2)S(3) Visible Light Sensitizer

In this study, TiO(2)-Bi(2)S(3) composites with various morphologies were synthesized through hydrothermal vulcanization with sputtering deposited Bi(2)O(3) sacrificial layer method on the TiO(2) nanorod templates. The morphologies of decorated Bi(2)S(3) nanostructures on the TiO(2) nanorod templates are controlled by the duration of hydrothermal vulcanization treatment. The Bi(2)S(3) crystals in lumpy filament, nanowire, and nanorod feature were decorated on the TiO(2) nanorod template after 1, 3, and 5 h hydrothermal vulcanization, respectively. Comparatively, TiO(2)-Bi(2)S(3) composites with Bi(2)S(3) nanowires exhibit the best photocurrent density, the lowest interfacial resistance value and the highest photodegradation efficiency towards Rhodamine B solution. The possible Z-scheme photoinduced charge separation mechanism and suitable morphology of Bi(2)S(3) nanowires might account for the high photoactivity of TiO(2) nanorod-Bi(2)S(3) nanowire composites.