Fabrication of nanoheterostructures of boron doped ZnO-MoS2 with enhanced photostability and photocatalytic activity for environmental remediation applications

• Published in: Vacuum 2019-05, Vol.163, p.88-98
• Main Authors: Kumar, Suneel, Maivizhikannan, Venkatachalam, Drews, Janina, Krishnan, Venkata
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: B-ZnO-MoS2 nanoheterostructures; Boron doped ZnO; Charge transfer; Environmental remediation; Photocatalysis
• ISSN: 0042-207X; 1879-2715
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vacuum.2019.02.001

In this work, we have developed two dimensional (2D) nanosheets-nanoparticles (0D) nanoheterostructures of boron-doped ZnO nanoparticles loaded over MoS2 nanosheets with enhanced photocatalytic activity for pollutant removal. A series of nanoheterostructures with varying amount of MoS2 nanosheets were prepared using facile hydrothermal method and characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) techniques to confirm there successful synthesis. The optimized nanoheterostructure photocatalyst with 1 wt% of MoS2 nanosheets (BZM1) exhibits superior photocatalytic activity for pollutant removal under visible light illumination. The superior photocatalytic activity of BZM1 nanoheterostructure has been supported by photoluminescence (PL) studies which show the remarkably decreased PL intensity signifying the low recombination rate of photogenerated charge carriers. In addition, the formation of 0D-2D heterojunction plays a significant role in enhancing the photocatalytic activity by accelerated photogenerated charge carriers separation in space and ultimately improved photocatalytic activity. Furthermore, the plausible photocatalytic mechanism has been discussed in detail on the basis of active species trapping experiment which validate the significant role of holes and hydroxyl radicals in degradation process. Overall, this work paves way for the facile fabrication of 0D-2D nanoheterostructures for diverse applications. •0D-2D nanoheterostructure of B-doped ZnO and MoS2 nanosheets has been fabricated by facile hydrothermal synthesis method.•Nanoheterostructure with 1 wt% loading of MoS2 nanosheets exhibits superior photocatalytic activity for pollutants removal.•B-doping and intimate interfacial contact endows the fast charge transfer across interface.•Plausible mechanism for enhanced photocatalytic activity has been proposed and discussed.