Surface partially oxidized MoS2 nanosheets as a higher efficient cocatalyst for photocatalytic hydrogen production

In this study, a novel MoO3@MoS2/TiO2 photocatalyst with higher photocatalytic hydrogen production efficiency was prepared via a hydrothermal followed by quenching method. The prepared composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, UV–Vis Spectrophotometers, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The photocatalytic performance for hydrogen evolution was also investigated. The results show that MoS2-340 °C/TiO2 exhibits excellent photocatalytic hydrogen production efficiency (4669 μmol g−1 h−1), which is 5.8 times higher than that of unquenched MoS2/TiO2 under the same conditions. MoO3 on the surface and edges of large layered MoS2 creates more traps adjacent to the joint. More photogenerated electrons can be enriched during the photocatalytic reaction, which achieve the purpose of exposing more active sites.