Hydrothermal construction of flower-like MoS2 on TiO2 NTs for highly efficient environmental remediation and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Abstract

The convenient and efficient anodic oxidation method was used to grow TiO2 nanotubes (NTs) on Ti sheets as the substrate, and then ultrathin MoS2 nanosheets were assembled on TiO2 NTs to construct flower-like structure composite photocatalyst in the hydrothermal process. The abundant reactive centers in the photocatalytic reaction were attributed to the thinness and wrinkling of MoS2 nanosheets. The superior carrier separation and migration capacity of the photocatalyst was verified by electrochemical characterization and photoluminescence spectroscopy analysis. The loading amount effect of MoS2 on the degradation efficiency of RhB and MB was explored. Evidently, the ability of the photocatalyst to degrade pollutants was significantly improved, and the optimal degradation efficiency of RhB and MB reached 76.33% and 100%, respectively. Assisted by adding sacrificial agent and external voltage, the outstanding photocatalytic hydrogen evolution was detected, and the optimal H2 production could reach 900.9 μmol. The mechanism of pollutant removal and hydrogen generation by TiO2 NTs/MoS2 heterojunction was proposed and analyzed based on the energy band structure and free radical capture experiments of photocatalysts.