Preparation, characterization, and photocatalytic properties of micro- spherical MoS2

Abstract Herein, MoS2 microspheres with a uniform particle size and good crystallinity were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis at 200°C for 24 h. XRD, TEM, and XPS analysis showed that the 2H-MoS2 microspheres were prepared and contained abundant catalytic active sites. Using rhodamine B and methylene blue as simulated environmental pollutants, the photocatalytic activity of MoS2 was analyzed by degrading these organic dyes. Under visible light irradiation, the degradation rate of rhodamine B reached 95% and that of methylene blue reached 98%. During the photocatalytic reaction, the formation of electron-hole pairs in MoS2 was promoted, and strongly-oxidizing hydroxyl radicals (▪OH) were formed by a series of reactions, which degraded the organic substances.