Fabrication of Ternary MoS2/CdS/Bi2S3-Based Nano Composites for Photocatalytic Dye Degradation

The synthesis and design of low-cost visible-light-active catalysts for the photodegradation of organic dyes have been regarded as an efficient way to use solar energy in addressing environmental issues. We report the fabrication of MoS2/CdS nanoparticles functionalized with Bi2S3 nanoflakes. The ternary composites of MoS2/CdS/Bi2S3 were synthesized in situ by a hydrothermal method at different temperatures. The changes in structural, optical, and morphological properties of the synthesized CdS/MoS2/Bi2S3 were explored. The effects of Bi2S3 on CdS/MoS2 were thoroughly studied by performing an X-ray diffractometer (XRD), a scanning electron microscope (SEM), an ultra-violet-visible spectrometer (Uv-vis), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic (FT-IR) studies of the nanoparticles. XRD confirms the cubical crystal structure of the nanoparticles. SEM studies possess the modulation in the surface morphology with the tenability in volume ratios of MoS2/CdS/Bi2S3 composites. It was observed that the bandgaps calculated using absorption measurements could be manipulated from 2.40 eV to 0.97 eV with varying Bi2S3 in the MoS2/CdS nanostructures. FT-IR confirmed the synthesis of MoS2/CdS/Bi2S3 nanoparticles. On allowing the visible light to fall for 120 min, it was observed that MoS2/CdS/Bi2S3 degrades the methylene blue up to 90%. The calculated results of MoS2/CdS/Bi2S3 suggest that the synthesized material could be a strong candidate for photodegradation applications. This research work explains the synthesis of MoS2/CdS/Bi2S3-based nanocomposites for the degradation of dye using a photocatalytic process. The final results show that this catalyst effectively degrades the dye.

Automated summary

The synthesis of low-cost visible-light-active catalysts for the photodegradation of organic dyes is an efficient way to use solar energy and address environmental issues. In this study, MoS2/CdS nanoparticles functionalized with Bi2S3 nanoflakes were fabricated using a hydrothermal method. The ternary composites of MoS2/CdS/Bi2S3 were synthesized at different temperatures and their structural, optical, and morphological properties were examined. The results suggest that MoS2/CdS/Bi2S3 could be a strong candidate for photodegradation applications.