Ternary system of ZnO nanorods/reduced graphene oxide/CuInS2 quantum dots for enhanced photocatalytic performance

Highlights: • Nanocomposite ZnO-RGO-CuInS₂ has been prepared for photocatalytic application. • Achieving a greatly enhanced light absorption and charge transfer process. • Performing an excellent photocatalytic property to degrade RhB solution. A new ternary system consisting of ZnO nanorod/reduced graphene oxide (RGO)/CuInS₂ quantum dots has been successfully prepared for photocatalytic application under visible light irradiation. Through the hybridization with the light harvesting material of CuInS₂, as well as the conductivity medium RGO, the ternary composite achieves a greatly enhanced light absorption and charge transfer than that of the pristine ZnO. The photocatalytic performance of ZnO-RGO-CuInS₂ is substantially elevated with an optimized content of 10% CuInS₂ incorporated. The composite material of ZnO-RGO-10% CuInS₂ can nearly completely degrade Rhodamine B (RhB) solution in 120 min, whereas bare ZnO itself can only degrade 20% RhB. The excellent photocatalytic performance of ZnO-RGO-CuInS₂ demonstrates its promising in the photocatalytic or other extended applications. This work demonstrates a facile way to prepare integrative photosensitizer by taking advantage from the co-catalysts for more efficient and stable semiconductor based composite photocatalyst.