Highly Efficient Simulated Solar Light-Driven Photocatalytic Degradation of 4-Nitrophenol over CdS/Carbon/MoSx Hybrids

Among the various organic pollutants and industrial chemicals, 4-nitrophenol has been one of the most monitored substances in aqueous environments, due to its enhanced solubility in such systems. This research reports for the first time the microwave-assisted synthesis of CdS/carbon/MoSx hybrids and the subsequent utilization of such systems as photocatalysts for 4-nitrophenol degradation. The hybrids demonstrated a variable photocatalytic activity, by using a variety of organic substances as precursors for the solvothermal carbonization step. By using ascorbic acid as precursor, the corresponding ternary composite exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity, with the 4-nitrophenol concentration been almost quantitatively decayed within 45 min of irradiation. This could be ascribed due to the generation of a high population of heterojunctions as well as the chemical speciation of Mo-based nanostructures. Such ternary hybrids may be utilized as potential photocatalytic systems in processes, where removal of toxic water-soluble substances is the key issue.

Automated summary

This research presents the microwave-assisted synthesis of CdS/carbon/MoSx hybrids used as photocatalysts for degrading 4-nitrophenol. The hybrids showed variable photocatalytic activity, with the ternary composite using ascorbic acid as a precursor exhibiting excellent performance in degrading 4-nitrophenol within 45 minutes of irradiation. This suggests potential applications of such ternary hybrids in removing toxic water-soluble substances.