Abstract
In this work, with the the H2TiO3 colloidal suspension and MoS2 as the precursors, TiO2/MoS2 composites composed of anatase TiO2 nanocrystals with co-exposed {101} and [111]-facets (nanorod and nanocuboid), {101} and {010} facets (nanospindle), and MoS2 microspheres constructed by layer-by-layer self-assembly of nanosheets were hydrothermally synthesized under different pH conditions. The characterization has been performed by combining X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution TEM (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), photoluminescence (PL) spectra, and UV-visible absorption spectrum analyses. The photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) in an aqueous suspension was employed to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared pHx-TiO2/MoS2 composites. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of pH3.5-TiO2/MoS2 composite was the highest (99.70%), which was 11.24, 2.98, 1.48, 1.21, 1.09, 1.03, 1.10, and 1.14 times that of Blank, MoS2, CM-TiO2, pH1.5-TiO2/MoS2, pH5.5-TiO2/MoS2, pH7.5-TiO2/MoS2, pH9.5-TiO2/MoS2, pH11.5-TiO2/MoS2, respectively. The pH3.5-TiO2/MoS2 composite exhibited the highest photocatalytic degradation rate, which may be attributed to the synergistic effects of its large specific surface area, suitable heterojunction structure, and favorable photogenerated charge-separation efficiency. This work is expect to provide primary insights into the photocatalytic effect of TiO2/MoS2 composite with co-exposed high-energy facets, and make a contribution to designing more efficient and stable photocatalysts.
Funder
Applied Basic Research Project of Shanxi
Shanxi Scientific and Technological Innovation Programs of Higher Education Institutions
Jinzhong University “1331 Project”
Natural Science Foundation of Inner Mongolia
Research Start-up Fee of Jinzhong University
Subject
Electrical and Electronic Engineering,Mechanical Engineering,Control and Systems Engineering