Highly efficient removal and sequestration of Cr(VI) in confined MoS2 interlayer Nanochannels: Performance and mechanism

Abstract

Environmental contamination by Cr(VI) is of particular concern because of its severe toxicity and high mobility. In this study, we employed two-dimensional MoS2 nanosheets in the removal of Cr(VI), with an emphasis on revealing the removal mechanisms, and how the compositional and structural uniqueness of 2D MoS2 nanomaterials intrinsically impact the Cr removal efficiency. Through batch experiments with dispersed nanosheets, we found that MoS2 nanosheets exhibited a high Cr(VI) removal capacity at ∼1100 mg/g via a phase-dependent mechanism. Particularly, the 1T polymorph in the MoS2 nanosheets removed Cr(VI) through a redox-reaction mechanism, which was different from the adsorptive removal of Cr(VI) by MoS2 reported previously, highlighting the compositional effects on the removal mechanism and performance. More importantly, the reduced product Cr(III) was concurrently removed via precipitation and adsorption onto the MoS2 nanosheets, which could avoid the additional pH-elevation step that is typically needed in the conventional treatment. The unique 2D flake-like structure of MoS2 nanosheets enabled the formation of aligned and ion-accessible nanochannels, where Cr(VI) species were accommodated, reduced and sequestered. The irreversible shrinking of the nanochannels under drying modified the interior of the layer-stacked structure into confined compartments preventing the release and re-oxidation of the immobilized Cr(III). The compiled results highlight the effects of MoS2 composition and structure on the Cr removal efficiency and mechanism, which has substantial implications on future studies tailoring these unique features of 2D nanomaterials for various remediation scenarios.