Vertically aligned 1T-WS2 nanosheets supported on carbon cloth as a high-performance flexible photocatalyst

Metastable 1T phase transition-metal dichalcogenides materials have attracted substantial interest as a potential catalyst for photodegradation. However, methods for synthesizing 1T-WS2 are limited and complicated. Herein, a flexible, structural stable, easy recovery and reusable photocatalyst 1T-WS2/Carbon cloth was developed through a simple solvothermal synthesis route. Vertically aligned 1T-WS2 with large surface area renders ultrahigh photocatalytic activity and durability with respect to organic pollution methylene blue under simulated sunlight illumination. As a consequence, the 1T-WS2/CC-200 catalyst presents an improved photodegradation rate as high as 96 % and excellent reusability in continuous test mode. Moreover, the metastable 1T-WS2 does not transform to stable 2 H phase, even after a five-months exposure in ambient, making the 1T-WS2/CC a promising photocatalyst for practical application.