Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of MoS₂–Ag₃PO₄ nanocomposites as visible light photocatalyst for the degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride

ABSTRACT

In the modern era, industrialization has facilitated the human life but produced several severe pollutants as well that are hazardous in nature. Thus the degradation of these hazardous material has drawn considerable attention. This study deals with the synthesis of MoS₂/Ag₃PO₄ heterojunction nanocomposite with 1–50% wt. using a microwave-assisted hydrothermal process as well as photocatalytic activity of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) degradation has been analysed. The compositional properties of nanocomposite catalysts have been studied through X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy as well as structural and morphological studies were conducted through scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmet–Teller, photoluminescence, N₂ physical adsorption, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. This provides an excellent and efficient mechanism for the remediation of residual organic contaminants under visible light that could be used to decontaminate the atmosphere.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Heterojunction
• molybdenum disulphide
• silver orthophosphate
• visible light irradiation
• tetracycline antibiotics

Acknowledgements

The financial supports to this work from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51974216, 51704212 and 51704220), the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province (No. 2019CFB536) are gratefully acknowledged.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The financial supports to this work from the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 51974216], [grant number 51704212] and [grant number 51704220], the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province [grant number 2019CFB536] are gratefully acknowledged.; Wuhan University of Technology.