A visible-light sensitive MoSSe nanohybrid for the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline, oxytetracycline, and chlortetracycline

A MoSSe nanohybrids (NHs) was synthesized, characterized, and tested for the degradation of tetracy-cline, oxytetracycline, and chlortetracycline under visible light irradiation. The Z-scheme MoSSe NHs exhibited higher specific surface area (-10 times), faster charge separation, and greater photo-absorption than MoS2 nanoparticles (NPs) or MoSe2 NPs catalyst. The photocatalysts were characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, elemental mapping, transmission electron microscope, thermo-gravimetric analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, pho-toluminescence, and electrochemical measurements. The MoSSe NHs exhibited significantly marked pho-tocatalytic activity, achieving 95% of tetracycline (TC) degradation in 60 min with a rate constant of 0.1 min(-1), which was about 5-and ti 6-fold that of MoS2 NPs and MoSe2 NPs, respectively. Superoxide radical (O-2(-)) played the major role in catalytic reactivity. The mechanism and pathway of TC degradation on the Z-scheme nanohybrid photocatalyst was established. Moreover, the nanohybrid photocatalyst exhibited high structural stability, visible light absorption, and reusability in the removal of recalcitrant contaminants, namely, tetracycline, oxytetracycline, and chlortetracycline. (C)& nbsp;2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

A MoSSe nanohybrid photocatalyst with high visible light absorption and stable structure has been synthesized and shown to effectively degrade tetracycline under visible light irradiation. The MoSSe nanohybrid exhibited superior photocatalytic performance compared to MoS2 and MoSe2 nanoparticles, with higher specific surface area, faster charge separation, and increased degradation rate. The mechanism and pathway of tetracycline degradation on the MoSSe nanohybrid photocatalyst have been established.