Designing rGO/MoS2 hybrid nanostructures for photocatalytic applications. Issue 64 (21st June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cravanzola, Sara; Cesano, Federico; Magnacca, Giuliana; Zecchina, Adriano; Scarano, Domenica
• Is Part Of: RSC advances. Volume 6:Issue 64(2016)
• Page Start: 59001
• Page End: 59008
• Publication Date: 2016-06-21
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c6ra08633k
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2069

Abstract

Abstract : Graphene and MoS2, with their structural and morphological compatibility, can be well integrated to make new hybrid materials with enhanced catalytic properties, including the photodegradation of organic pollutants. Abstract : Graphene and its derivatives exhibit large surface area, being ideal templates to facilitate the nucleation, growth or interaction of a huge variety of structures. Among them, molybdenum disulphide, with its structural and morphological compatibility with graphene, can be a candidate for achieving an excellent integration, to make new hybrid nanocomposites with outstanding characteristics. Among the synthesis methods of graphene/MoS2 composites, the solution-phase exfoliation of a MoS2 /graphite mixture, by means of ultrasounds, shows significant advantages in terms of large amount production without altering the main properties of 2D nanomaterials. Moreover MoS2, having a strong absorption in the visible, has been exploited as a novel visible light-sensitive semiconductor photocatalyst. But, due to the quick recombination of photo-generated charge carriers, the photocatalytic efficiency of MoS2 has to be further improved. Graphene and graphene related materials, as excellent electron-acceptor/transport materials, have been applied to photocatalysis, because they are able to decrease the photo-generated electron–hole recombination, thus improving the light absorption. Therefore, MoS2 and graphite oxide (GO) have been simultaneously sonicated in an ethanol/water mixture and characterized from the structure, morphology and electronic properties point of view. The composite was thermally treated in such a way to reduce GO and the photocatalytic activity of the reduced GO/MoS2 has been investigated by means of UV-vis spectroscopy, following the degradation of methylene-blue (MB) under solar-like irradiation.