Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Reactive Dyes Under Visible Light Using ZnO/CdS/Co Nanocomposites: A Step Toward Advanced Environmental Remediation

Abstract

In this study, ZnO, CdS, ZnO/CdS, and ZnO/CdS/Co nanostructures were successfully synthesized using a simple chemical precipitation method. The formation of these nanostructures was confirmed through x‐ray diffraction (XRD), but their morphological properties were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Their optical properties were investigated using UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV‐DRS) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The photocatalytic activity of these materials was tested for the degradation of Reactive Blue 160 (RB 160) under visible light. It was observed that ZnO/CdS nanocomposites exhibited superior photocatalytic performance compared to pure ZnO. Furthermore, the inclusion of cobalt (Co) in the ZnO/CdS nanocomposites significantly enhanced this activity, likely due to improved visible light absorption. These findings suggest that ZnO/CdS/Co nanocomposites are promising candidates for efficient photocatalytic applications, particularly in environmental remediation under visible light.