Heterojunction of vertically aligned MoS2 layers to Hydrogenated Black TiO2 and Rutile Based Inorganic Hollow Microspheres for the highly enhanced visible light arsenic photooxidation

In this research, Rutile Based Inorganic Hollow Microspheres (RBIHM) and hydrogenated anatase TiO2 nanoparticles decorated with MoS2 nanosheets (HBTiO2/RBIHM-MoS2 photocatalyst) using Pulsed Laser Ablation in Liquid (PLAL) followed by microwave irradiation. Formation of vertically aligned MoS2 nanosheets, RBIHM and HBTiO2 nanoparticles were confirmed by different characterization techniques. The spectroscopic analysis revealed phase transitions in HBTiO2/RBIHM nano and microstructures along with the formation of different crystal disorders such as amorphous layers, oxygen vacancies, trivalent titanium ions and formation of molybdenum oxide (MoO3-x) in MoS2. In addition, MoS2 films in HBTiO2/RBIHM-MoS2 nanocomposite showed both Mo5+ and Mo6+ oxidation state, which indicates that these films have a p-type conductive behavior. Furthermore, the interconnected layers of MoS2 nanosheets led to the formation of a porous like 3D nanostructure in HBTiO2/RBIHM-MoS2, which could significantly improve its photocatalytic performance. Arsenite photooxidation efficiencies of 70.3% and 96.6% and arsenate adsorption capacities of 1600 and 5200 μg g−1 were obtained for HBTiO2/RBIHM and HBTiO2/RBIHM-MoS2, respectively. The synergetic effects originated from making RBIHM-HBTiO2, RBIHM-MoS2 and MoS2–HBTiO2 heterojunctions along with the surface and morphology modification in MoS2 NSs and HBTiO2/RBIHM can explain the nanocomposite superior photocatalytic performance. The present work can trigger a broad interest in the cost-effective nanoarchitecture of visible light driven heterostructured photocatalysts.