Reduce the recombination rate by facile synthesis of MoS2/g-C3N4 heterostructures as a solar light responsive catalyst for organic dye degradation

Abstract

In recent years, semiconductors such as molybdenum di-sulphide (MoS2) and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) have fascinated much attention from researchers in the arena of renewable energy, photo catalysis (hydrogen production, oxygen evaluation & dye degradation) and energy storage devices (batteries). Here, a novel MoS2 and g-C3N4 photocatalytic hetero-structure is synthesized by using hydrothermal and calcination methods, respectively. The heterostructures of these materials are synthesized by chemical and physical methods named MoS2/g-C3N4-M and MoS2/g-C3N4-P, respectively. XRD and FTIR confirms the molecular structure and bonding formation of prepared materials. UV–visible shows 2.32 and 2.26 eV band gaps for MoS2/g-C3N4-P and MoS2/g-C3N4-M, respectively. Nanorods are successfully synthesized by MoS2, and g-C3N4 has a sponge-like structure. Heterostructures confirm the existence of both g-C3N4 and MoS2, according to SEM. MoS2 nanoparticles (NPs) molded on g-C3N4 nanosheets significantly boosted the photocatalytic action of g-C3N4. The photocatalytic performance was evaluated for the degradation of methyl blue (MB) under sunlight. The greatest photocatalytic performance for MB degradation was demonstrated by MoS2/g-C3N4-P. 95 % of MB was decomposed by MoS2/g-C3N4-P after 80 min. MoS2 NPs can boost interface charge transport and restrict the re-mixing of hole-electron pairs produced by photons. Therefore, it is demonstrated that the novel MoS2/g-C3N4 heterostructure is a capable catalyst for the photocatalytic destruction of organic contaminants utilizing solar energy.