Three-dimensional MoS2/reduced graphene oxide aerogel as a macroscopic visible-light photocatalyst

Abstract

Photocatalysis is regarded as an ideal technology for solving the urgent environmental and energy issues that we face today. Among the reported photocatalysts, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is very promising for applications in hydrogen production and pollutant photodegradation. However, its lack of active sites and the difficulty of recovering catalysts in powder form have hindered its wide application. Here, we report the successful preparation of a macroscopic visible-light responsive MoS2/reduced graphene oxide (MoS2/RGO) aerogel. The obtained MoS2/RGO aerogel exhibits enhanced photocatalytic activity towards hydrogen production and photoreduction of Cr(VI) in comparison with the MoS2 powder. In addition, the low density (56.1 mg/cm3) of the MoS2/RGO aerogel enables it to be used as an efficient adsorption material for organic pollutants. Our results demonstrate that this very promising multifunctional aerogel has potential applications in environmental remediation and clean energy production.