One-step hydrothermal growth of MoS2 nanosheets/CdS nanoparticles heterostructures on montmorillonite for enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity.

Montmorillonite@MoS 2 /CdS composite materials (Mt@MoS 2 /CdS) were successfully prepared through one-step hydrothermal growth of MoS 2 nanosheets/CdS nanoparticles heterostructures on the surface of montmorillonite. The photocatalytic activity of samples was evaluated by degradation of organic dye Rhodamine B, and the ratio of MoS 2 and CdS was optimized. The microstructure and morphology characterization indicates that MoS 2 nanosheets and CdS nanoparticles are assembled on the surface of montmorillonite with the interface interaction, which have smaller size and higher dispersibility in composites. Mt@MoS 2 /CdS composites have large special surface area, high visible light absorption and low recombination rate of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Mt@MoS 2 /CdS-7 exhibits the highest adsorption rate and photocatalytic activity, and the overall removal rate of RhB was up to 98.8% after visible light irradiation for 45 min. The special structure of montmorillonite and MoS 2 /CdS heterostructures could enhance visible light photocatalytic activity of composites through a synergistic effect, and the possible photocatalytic reaction mechanism was explored. The Mt@MoS 2 /CdS composites show prospective application for photocatalytic degradation of organic dye in wastewater under visible light irradiation. Montmorillonite@MoS 2 /CdS composite materials (Mt@MoS 2 /CdS) were successfully prepared through one-step hydrothermal growth of MoS 2 nanosheets/CdS nanoparticles heterostructures on the surface of montmorillonite Unlabelled Image • Mt@MoS 2 /CdS was successfully prepared through facile one-step hydrothermal method. • MoS 2 nanosheets/CdS nanoparticles heterostructures were assembled on Mt surface. • Mt@MoS 2 /CdS-7 exhibits the highest photocatalytic activity in optimized proportion. • Mt and heterostructures could enhance synergistically the photocatalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]