Construction of an oxygen-incorporated fungal hyphae-MoS2 Schottky junction for enhanced uranium (VI) photoreduction.

In this study, the FH-MoS₂-O heterojunction was prepared by a synergistic strategy of oxygen injection and Schottky junction construction, thereby enhancing electron transfer in the material and generating more photoelectrons. This facilitates the continuous reduction of uranium and the photocatalytic degradation of organic matter in wastewater. In simulated radioactive waste liquid with a concentration of 8 mg/L, the FH-MoS₂-O heterojunction achieves an impressive U(VI) removal rate of 91.9%. When the initial concentration of U(VI) is 100 mg/L, the removal capacity reaches 251.76 mg/g. Furthermore, the presence of excess interfering ions and the recycling of the FH-MoS₂-O heterojunction have negligible effects on the U(VI) removal rate. Mechanistic studies reveal that oxygen injection not only reduces the band gap but also enhances U(VI) adsorption on the FH-MoS₂-O heterojunction. Additionally, it lowers the reduction potential of U(VI) and increases the photocurrent, significantly improving U(VI) reduction efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]