Synthesis of S-rich flower-like Fe₂O₃-MoS₂ for Cr(VI) removal

ABSTRACT

A novel Fe₂O₃-MoS₂ nanocomposite was synthesized directly via the solvothermal method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results showed the as-prepared Fe₂O₃-MoS₂ had a uniform 3D blooming flower-like nanostructure with a MoS₂ substrate. The high-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) confirmed the Fe₂O₃ nanostructures were well-dispersed on the surface of the layered MoS₂. The elemental mapping results revealed Fe, O, Mo and S elements coexisted in the Fe₂O₃-MoS₂ nanocomposite. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results displayed an S-rich MoS₂ structure had been formed in the Fe₂O₃-MoS₂ nanocomposite. As expected, the S-rich Fe₂O₃-MoS₂ nanocomposite had better photocatalytic performance on Cr(VI) reduction than that of bare Fe₂O₃, MoS₂ and TiO₂ P25.

KEYWORDS:

• Cr(VI)
• flower-like structure
• MoS₂
• semiconductor
• visible light

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21307104), Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, China (No. BK20130438&BK20150451), and Natural science fund for colleges and universities in Jiangsu Province (14KJB180025). We thank the testing centre of Yangzhou University for sample characterization.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21307104), Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, China (No. BK20130438&BK20150451), and Natural science fund for colleges and universities in Jiangsu Province (14KJB180025). We thank the testing centre of Yangzhou University for sample characterization.