In-situ deposited CdS NPs on pH induced fully exfoliated layered titanate-biopolymeric composite and its photocatalytic activity

Abstract

Herein, pH mediated in-situ formation, stabilization, exfoliation of layered titanate has been explored for various types of exfoliation of the stacked layered titanate (H2Ti2O5·H2O). Based on exfoliation, a CdS NPs/exfoliated layered titanate based crosslinked biopolymeric nanohybrid has been developed via in-situ approach. The synthetic strategy of polymeric hybrid-composite follows simultaneous increase of the degree of polymerisation, in-situ controlled decomposition/hydrolysis of the pre-stage stacked layered titanate and its full exfoliation, followed by the growth of CdS NPs on the surface of exfoliated titanate nanosheets at 75 °C. Further, the investigation on photocatalytic degradation has been carried out in details to correlate the advantages of exfoliation and deposition of CdS NPs on stacked/unstacked titanate towards degradation of toxic 2,4-dichlorophenol under sunlight irradiation.