Electrostatically assembled CdS-Co3 O4 nanostructures for photo-assisted water oxidation and photocatalytic reduction of dye molecules.

Electrostatic assembly is used here to couple CdS nanorods with Co3 O4 nanoparticles into photocatalytic systems that simultaneously oxidize water and mediate electron transfer. Layered films of CdS nanorods and Co3 O4 nanoparticles are first used to generate high photo-currents electrochemically as opposed to CdS or Co3 O4 alone. Dispersed clusters of CdS nanorods conjugated with Co3 O4 nanoparticles are next shown to efficiently oxidize water and reduce methylene blue in solution.