Ecofriendly and One-Pot Synthesis of Flower-Like MoS2: Sunlight-Assisted Photocatalytic Simultaneous Degradation of Pollutants and Investigation of Electrochemical Properties

Abstract

A facile and green hydrothermal synthesis of flower-like MoS₂ nanostructures was developed using a thio-Schiff base ligand as both sulfur source and capping agent. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of the synthesized MoS₂ were characterized using XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, Raman, FTIR, UV-Vis, and PL spectroscopy. The XRD pattern of MoS₂ revealed its hexagonal structure, whereas FE-SEM and TEM images revealed the formation of 3D flower-like microspheres. The photocatalytic activity of the synthesized MoS₂ was investigated under natural sunlight for the simultaneous degradation of eosin Y (EY) and methylene blue (MB) dyes. A remarkable degradation efficiency of 98% for EY and 85% for MB was attained, with respective degradation rates of 0.01971 ± 0.0008 and 0.0065 ± 0.0002. The photocatalyst exhibited excellent reusability, maintaining its efficiency for up to four cycles for EY and three cycles for MB. Furthermore, the MoS₂ photocatalyst demonstrated efficient simultaneous degradation of mixed dyes, suggesting its potential for treating industrial wastewater under natural sunlight. Electrochemical measurements revealed excellent electron transfer kinetics and high conductivity of the MoS₂-modified glassy carbon electrode, attributed to its large surface area. The synthesized MoS₂ nanostructures demonstrate promising potential as an efficient, stable, and recyclable photocatalyst for the treatment of industrial wastewater under natural sunlight.