Polymers direct selectivity: Polymer-nano-MoS3 catalysts – effective with and without irradiation

Abstract

This study focuses on elucidating the structure and catalytic properties of polymer-MoS3 assemblies with various polymers. The polymer-MoS3 particles are synthesized by a bottom-up approach using different non-covalent forces, in particular electrostatic interactions and coordination. The structure and size, depending on the composition of the polymer-MoS3 assemblies, is analyzed by light scattering, spectroscopy and microscopy. The catalytically active assemblies enable a selective degradation of dyes with low HOMO orbitals and the choice of the polymer directs the selectivity with regard to the chemical charge of the probe molecule. The degradation, which also takes place in darkness, can be substantially enhanced with light. Based on variation of the hole scavenger and the amount of catalyst, the mechanism of the catalysis has been determined. This allows an increase in the reaction rate and the reuse of the catalyst for at least ten reaction cycles, which may be exploited for solar-to-chemical energy conversion or wastewater treatment.