Efficient exfoliation to MoS2 nanosheets by salt-assisted refluxing and ultrasonication with photocatalytic application

Abstract

Well-dispersed MoS 2 nanosheets with good stability could be efficiently obtained by a modified NaCl-assisted liquid-phase exfoliation method. The prepared MoS 2 nanosheets could effectively mineralize antibiotic residues in water under visible light irradiation. • MoS 2 nanosheets were efficiently prepared by NaCl-assisted ultrasonication exfoliation. • The prepared MoS 2 nanosheets suspension shows good dispersion and stability. • Antibiotic residue can be effectively mineralized on MoS 2 nanosheets photocatalyst. Complete exfoliation bulk MoS 2 to 2D nanosheets has been efficiently achieved by the facile NaCl-assisted liquid-phase refluxing and ultrasonication exfoliation method. The obtained nanosheets have good dispersion and stability in aqueous solutions, and exhibit efficiently photocatalytic activity for removing aqueous antibiotic residues under visible light. The present work provides a new approach to achieve completely exfoliated 2D nanosheets for the photocatalytic removal of refractory pollutants.