Highly efficient full solar spectrum (UV-vis-NIR) photocatalytic performance of Ag2S quantum dot/TiO2 nanobelt heterostructures

[Display omitted] •Utilize full solar spectrum in photocatalysis for organic contaminants removal and hydrogen production.•The broad spectrum light absorption properties of Ag2S QDs make the TiO2 nanobelts have visible and NIR photocatalytic activity.•A 1D TiO2 nanostructure based heterostructure (Ag2S QDs/TiO2 nanobelt heterostructure) was designed. Finding a photocatalyst that can utilize the full solar spectrum is paramount importance in photocatalysis. Assembling TiO2 with a narrow bandgap semiconductor to form a heterostructure which can harvest the light from UV to near-infrared (NIR) region would be ideal for photocatalysis. Here, we report the synthesis of Ag2S quantum dots (QDs)/TiO2 nanobelt heterostructures to display the UV-visible-NIR full spectrum photocatalytic property. The enhanced photocatalytic performance is ascribed to the efficient charge separation properties of the heterostructure formed by intimate contact between Ag2S and TiO2, and efficient visible and NIR harvesting of Ag2S QDs on the surface of TiO2 nanobelts.