Self-assembly of aligned rutile@anatase TiO2 nanorod@CdS quantum dots ternary core–shell heterostructure: cascade electron transfer by interfacial design

Abstract

A novel self-assembly approach based on electrostatic interactions has been developed for the synthesis of a rutile@anatase TiO₂ nanorod (NR)@CdS quantum dots (QDs) ternary core–shell heterostructure, in which an in situ formed monodisperse anatase TiO₂ layer was intimately sandwiched between rutile TiO₂ NRs and CdS QDs. It has been demonstrated that the well-defined bilayer interface significantly improves the photocatalytic performance of the ternary heterostructure (i.e. rutile@anatase TiO₂ NR@CdS QDs), owing predominantly to the appropriate band alignment of the constituent semiconductors, thus facilitating photogenerated electron–hole separation and charge collection under simulated solar light irradiation.