Solar light-driven 2D MoS2 nanoflake-supported 1D ZnWO4 nanorod heterostructure: Efficient separation of charge carriers for removing toxic organic pollutants

In this study, a novel photocatalyst for efficiently eliminating toxic and harmful antibiotics from water bodies was prepared successfully. Precisely, MoS2/ZnWO4 (MSZW) heterostructures were prepared using a facile hydrothermal technique. The constructed samples were characterized by using structural, morphological, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and photoluminescence measurements. The efficiencies of the catalysts were investigated using the removal of tetracycline (TC) antibiotic under stimulated solar light irradiation. Among the prepared photocatalysts, the optimal MSZW-10 heterostructure displayed superior photocatalytic performance and degrade similar to 97.40% of TC within 105 min. Moreover, the photocatalytic performance of MSZW-10 is approximately similar to 6.18 and similar to 10.77 times greater over pure MoS2 and ZnWO4, respectively. The progress in the photocatalytic performance chiefly owing to its improved partition of charge carriers, the robust positive synergistic effect of suitable positions of energy levels, improved light absorption ability, and enhanced interfacial charge transfer between MoS2 and ZnWO4. The MoS2/ZnWO4 composite exhibits significantly enhanced photocatalytic performance as well as excellent reusability performance, thus indicating its applicability in wastewater treatment.

Automated summary

A novel photocatalyst MoS2/ZnWO4 was successfully prepared for efficiently eliminating toxic antibiotics from water bodies, with the optimal MSZW-10 heterostructure displaying superior photocatalytic performance degrading nearly 97.40% of TC within 105 minutes. The enhanced photocatalytic performance of the MoS2/ZnWO4 composite is attributed to improved charge carrier separation, suitable energy level positions, enhanced light absorption ability, and interfacial charge transfer between MoS2 and ZnWO4.