Synergistic effect of surface plasmon resonance, Ti3+ and oxygen vacancy defects on Ag/MoS2/TiO2-x ternary heterojunctions with enhancing photothermal catalysis for low-temperature wastewater degradation

Ag/MoS2/TiO2-x, ternary heterojunctions are fabricated through hydrothermal and photo-deposition process combine with in-situ solid-state chemical reduction approach. The prepared materials are characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, photoluminescence, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results show that the ternary heterojunctions doped with Ti3+ are formed, meanwhile, Ag nanoparticle and MoS2 nanosheets are anchored on surface of TiO2 nanobelts simultaneously. The photocatalytic degradation ratio of Bisphenol A in low temperature water and hydrogen production rate for Ag/MoS2/TiO2-x are up to 96.7% and similar to 1.98 mmol h(-1) g(-1), respectively, which are several times higher than that of pristine TiO2. Furthermore, the photothermal performance of Ag/MoS2/TiO2-x is also unexpected. The excellent photocatalytic activity and photothermal performance can be ascribed to the synergistic effect of the formation of heterojunctions, Ti3+ and surface oxygen vacancies defects and surface plasmon resonance of Ag nanoparticles, which extend the photoresponse to visible-infrared light region and favor the spatial separation of photogenerated charge carriers.