Hierarchical MoS₂ Nanosheet@TiO₂ Nanotube Array Composites with Enhanced Photocatalytic and Photocurrent Performances

Abstract

A novel type of hierarchical nanocomposites consisted of MoS2 nanosheet coating on the self-ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays is successfully prepared by a facile combination of anodization and hydrothermal methods. The MoS2 nanosheets are uniformly decorated on the tube top surface and the intertubular voids with film appearance changing from brown to black color. Anatase TiO2 nanotube arrays (NTAs) with clean top surfaces and the appropriate amount of MoS2 precursors are key to the growth of perfect compositing TiO2 @MoS2 hybrids with significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity and photocurrent response. These results reveal that the strategy provides a flexible and straightforward route for design and preparation nanocomposites based on functional semiconducting nanostructures with 1D self-ordered TiO2 NTAs, promising for new opportunities in energy/environment applications, including photocatalysts and other photovoltaic devices.

Nanohybrids of Two‐Dimensional Transition‐Metal Dichalcogenides and Titanium Dioxide for Photocatalytic Applications

“…MoS 2 ,a sar epresentativeo f TMDC nanosheets, has been widely investigated in compositing with TiO 2 to construct binary [57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65] or ternary [66,67] nanocompositesa ss hown in Ta ble 2. Recently,Z hang and co-workers have utilized different crystal facets of anatase TiO 2 as substrates to composite with 2D MoS 2 and investigated the facetdependentp hotocatalytic activity of MoS 2 /TiO 2 composite.…”

“…In addition to chemically assembled routes for preparation MoS 2 /TiO 2 nanocomposites, Zheng and co-workers reported fabrication of hierarchical MoS 2 /TiO 2 composites by coating thin layer MoS 2 nanosheets onto 1D anodic self-ordered TiO 2 nanotube arrays using ac ombination of anodization and hydrothermal methods. [61] This approachr emoves the difficulty for recycling use or requiring additives/binders to prepare the electrodes for photoelectrochemical measurements. The MoS 2 nanosheets were evenly distributed over the tube top surface and the intertubular voids rather than filling in the tubes (Figure 10).…”

Fast and Large-Scale Anodizing Synthesis of Pine-Cone TiO2 for Solar-Driven Photocatalysis

“…Although it is faster to prepare TiO 2 with the anodic oxidation method, it still takes a few hours [24][25][26][27]. For example, well-aligned TiO 2 nanotube arrays were obtained after first anodizing for two hours in an electrolyte containing NH 4 F, ethylene glycol, and H 2 O at 60 V, and again anodizing for 20 min at 60 V, and finally annealing for three hours at 450 • C [28]. On the other hand, in real 2 of 17 applications, TiO 2 nanotube films obtained by the anodization method have many advantages, such as high photocatalytic activity, simple installation and easy recycling.…”

Sonochemical synthesis of CuO nanostructures and their morphology dependent optical and visible light driven photocatalytic properties

“…There are several semiconductor nanostructures like CuO, Fe 2 O 3 , ZnO, ZnS, CuS, Nb 2 O 5 and TiO 2 have been developed for the photocatalytic degradation of various organic pollutants [21][22][23][24][25][26][27]. Among these semiconductors, CuO nanostructure is a potential candidate for the catalytic activities due to its higher surface area and ease tuning of size and shape [28].…”