Ru/CdS Quantum Dots Templated on Clay Nanotubes as Visible‐Light‐Active Photocatalysts: Optimization of S/Cd Ratio and Ru Content

Abstract

An anoarchitectural approachb ased on in situ formation of quantumd ots (QDs) within/outsidec lay nanotubes was developed. Efficient and stable photocatalysts active under visible light werea chieved with rutheniumdoped cadmium sulfide QDs templated on the surface of azine-modified halloysite nanotubes. The catalytic activity was tested in the hydrogen evolutionr eaction in aqueous electrolyte solutions under visible light. Ru doping enhanced the photocatalytic activity of CdS QDs thanks to better light absorption and electron-hole pair separation due to formation of am etal/semiconductor heterojunction. The S/Cd ratio was the major factor for the formation of stable nanoparticleso nt he surface of the azine-modified clay.Aquantum yield of 9.3 %w as reached by using Ru/CdS/halloysite containing 5.2 wt %o fC dd oped with 0.1 wt %o fR ua nd an S/Cd ratio of unity.I nv ivo and in vitro studies on the CdS/ halloysite hybrid demonstrated the absence of toxic effects in eukaryotic cells and nematodes in short-term tests, and thus they are promising photosensitive materials for multiple applications.

Halloysite Nanotubes: Smart Nanomaterials in Catalysis

“…Afterwards, this nanomaterial was used for Ru deposition (Figure 7). Starting from these findings the same authors in another work, doped the CdS NPs stabilized onto and into HNTs with Ru NPs to obtain a photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution [87]. To efficiently bind cadmium nitrate onto HNTs, the clay was first functionalized with azine as a chelating agent, and then the complex was treated with thioacetamide to finally achieve the CdS NPs supported onto HNTs (CdS/Halloysite).…”

Natural aluminosilicate nanotubes loaded with RuCo as nanoreactors for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

“…Another positive feature of halloysite clay nanotubes is their biological and ecological biocompatibility. On the examples of heavy metal containing nanoparticles, it was shown that such systems possessed no acute toxicity to model cells and organisms [ 19 , 20 ].…”

1,2,3-Oligotriazoles modified halloysite nanotubes as potential active biological species: synthesis and characterization

“…Due to chemical composition, it is possible to selectively modify the HNTs surfaces leading to the development of different nanostructures. [10][11][12] HNTs have been used as catalysts, [13][14][15] materials for pollutant removal, [16][17] fillers for polymeric matrices 18 and often as drug carriers [19][20] and delivery systems. [21][22] In this context, one of the most promising feature of HNTs and modified HNTs, is their ability to penetrate the cellular membrane surrounding the cell nuclei.…”