Piezo-photocatalytic reduction of toxic Cr(VI) ions based on MoS2 nanoflowers

The reduction of Cr6+ is very important for sewage treatment. Here, a strategy is proposed for the highly efficient reduction of Cr6+ by co-utilizing the photocatalysis and piezoelectric effect of MoS2 nanoflowers. Under both solar-irradiation (300 W Xe lamp) and ultrasonication, the Cr6+ removal rate catalyzed by few-layer MoS2 nanoflowers (10 mg) increases with increasing ultrasonication power, and a maximum of 96.22 % is achieved under solar irradiation and ultrasonication (100 W) for 20 min, similar to 3.65-fold of that under only solar irradiation. The fast Cr6+ removal rate can be ascribed to the synergistic effect of light induced reduction effect and ultrasound induced piezoelectric field. This work explores a new approach for highly efficient Cr6+ removal.

Automated summary

A strategy for highly efficient reduction of Cr6+ by utilizing the photocatalysis and piezoelectric effect of MoS2 nanoflowers is proposed. The Cr6+ removal rate catalyzed by few-layer MoS2 nanoflowers increases with increasing ultrasonication power under solar irradiation. The synergistic effect of light induced reduction effect and ultrasound induced piezoelectric field contributes to the fast Cr6+ removal rate.