| Summary: | In this study, a ternary CdS-ZnS-BiPO<sub>4</sub> nanocomposite, synthesized by a solvent-assisted heating method, demonstrated the highest visible light-induced photocatalysis towards the degradation of methylene blue (MB) when comparing with BiPO<sub>4</sub>, CdS-BiPO<sub>4</sub>, and ZnS-BiPO<sub>4</sub>. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS) were used to characterize the prepared nanocomposites. From UV-DRS results, the energy band gap of the prepared BiPO<sub>4</sub> structures was 4.51 eV. When CdS nanoparticles were deposited on BiPO<sub>4</sub> surface by a solvent-assisted heating method, the prepared nanocomposites exhibited visible light-responsive photocatalytic degradation toward MB (20 ppm). At a molar ratio of Cd to Zn as 1:7, the prepared CdS-ZnS-BiPO<sub>4</sub> nanocomposites exhibited the best photocatalytic activity in degrading 95% of MB dyes, out-performing pure BiPO<sub>4</sub>, CdS-BiPO<sub>4</sub>, and ZnS-BiPO<sub>4</sub> due to its enhanced charge separation efficiency and the lowered carrier recombination from the efficient p-n junction of unprecedented ternary composites. The investigations on mechanism conclude that the major reactive species responsible for MB degradation are holes and oxygen radicals. For practicality, the degradation efficiency for different dyestuff (Fast Green FCF, Rhodamine 6G, Acid Blue 1, methyl orange, and methyl red) degradation in the different water matrix samples (pond water, seawater, and lake water) by the prepared CdS-ZnS-BiPO<sub>4</sub> nanocomposites was evaluated.
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