Highly photocatalytic active thiomolybdate [Mo3S13]2− clusters/BiOBr nanocomposite with enhanced sulfur tolerance

Abstract

The sulfur tolerant Mo3S132−/BiOBr nanocomposite photocatalysts were facilely fabricated by a hydrothermal method. The characterizations including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), UV–vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS) and photoluminescence (PL) investigate the structures, elemental composition, morphologies and photocatalytic activities of Mo3S132−/BiOBr nanocomposite. The 5.0wt% Mo3S132−/BiOBr composite sample showed highest visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity for decolorization of organic dyes including Rhodamine B (RhB) and sulfure containing methylene blue (MB). The decolorization of RhB was dominated by the direct hole and the generated O2− radicals oxidation process. Our 5.0wt% Mo3S132−/BiOBr nanocomposite exhibited comparable photocatalytic activity as the state of art 1wt% BiOBr/Pt composite for photocatalytic decolorization of RhB. The 5.0wt% Mo3S132−/BiOBr composite possessed better sulfur resistance than 1.0wt% Pt/BiOBr composite.