Exploring the multifunctionality of MoS2 and MoSe2 nanostructures: Enhanced ammonia sensing, antimicrobial activity and organic dye adsorption

Abstract

Nanostructured materials have emerged as a focal point in materials science, primarily due to their unique physical and structural characteristics that facilitate a wide range of applications. Multifunctional activity derived from a single material has been attracting attention recently. This study focuses on synthesizing the Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and Molybdenum diselenide (MoSe2) using the hydrothermal method of synthesis. The nanostructures thus produced were studied for various environmental remediation applications, including ammonia gas sensing, antimicrobial activities, and the removal of methyl orange (MO) dye from aqueous solutions. Herein, the flower-like MoS2 nanostructures exhibit remarkable ammonia-sensing capabilities with a response (Δ R/Rair%) of 100 % at room temperature when exposed to 20 ppm of ammonia gas. Additionally, they were also effective in the removal of MO from aqueous solutions. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity of the synthesized samples was also studied against Escherichia Coli (E. Coli) (MTCC443) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (MTCC170) using the agar diffusion method. The antibacterial activity of MoS2 and MoSe2 against E. coli produced inhibition zones of 18 mm and 22 mm, respectively. The antifungal activity against Saccharomyces cerevisiae resulted in inhibition zones of 11 mm and 16 mm, respectively, for 0.1 μg of MoS2 and MoSe2. The results indicated that MoSe2 exhibits superior antibacterial and antifungal activities compared to MoS2. This enhanced activity is likely attributable to the nanorod-like morphology of MoSe2, which facilitates easier penetration into microbial cell walls. Overall, this study underscores the multifunctional potential of these synthesized nanostructured materials, highlighting their applicability in environmental remediation.