One-step high-temperature solvothermal synthesis of TiO2/sulfide nanocomposite spheres and their solar visible-light applications.

A one-step high-temperature hydrated-sulfate assisted solvothermal method has been developed to synthesize TiO(2)/sulfide nanocomposite spheres. Different hybrid spheres of TiO(2)/CdS, TiO(2)/Cu(2)S, TiO(2)/FeS, TiO(2)/Co(9)S(8), and TiO(2)/ZnS were readily prepared by exploiting different hydrated sulfate. The hydrated sulfate has been proved to play multifunctional roles during the synthetic process, such as spherical template, water supplier, and composition controller. Nanocrystal CdS can be reduced from CdSO(4) at a high solvothermal temperature of 350 °C, and the TiO(2)/CdS nanocomposite spheres prepared by this method exhibit superior visible-light-driven photocatalytic efficiency because of its effective heterointerface and high crystallinity.