Photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange over ITO/CdS/ZnO interface composite films

ITO/CdS/ZnO interface composite films were successfully prepared by subsequent electrodeposition of CdS and ZnO onto indium tin oxide (ITO) glass substrates. The obtained ITO/CdS/ZnO composite films were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of ITO/CdS/ZnO composite films were investigated using methyl orange (MO) as a model organic compound under UV light irradiation. The influence of operating parameters on MO degradation including initial concentration of MO, pH value of solution, and inorganic anion species over the composite films were examined. A blue shift of absorption threshold was observed for the ITO/CdS/ZnO film in comparison with ITO/ZnO film. ITO/CdS/ZnO composite films prepared under specific conditions showed a higher photocatalytic activity than that of ITO/ZnO films. It was also found that the photocatalytic degradation of MO on the composite filing followed pseudo-first order kinetics.