Few-Layered MoS2 Synthesized by Hydrothermal Method with Improved Adsorption Capacity for Methylene Blue Than Active Carbon

Few-layer MoS2 nanosheets were synthesized by hydrothermal method using (NH4)(6)Mo7O24 center dot 4H(2)O and sulfur powders as molybdenum and sulfur sources, respectively. The microstructure and adsorption performance of MoS2 were affected greatly by the initial concentration of starting materials. With the decrease of raw materials concentration, the specific surface area of as-prepared MoS2 samples increased first, reached a maximum of 74.4 m(2)/g, and then decreased slightly to 69.8 m(2)/g, due to the gradual formation of bimodal mesoporous structure. Furthermore, MoS2 samples with improved specific surface area exhibited higher adsorption capacity for methylene blue than commercial activated carbon.