Photocatalytic activity of 3D flower-like MoS2 hemispheres

Abstract The novel 3D flower-like MoS2 hemispheres assembled by ultrathin MoS2 nano-sheet petals have been successfully prepared via a facile hydrothermal method using CTAB as surfactant. The crystal structure and morphology of the as-synthesized MoS2 samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), Raman spectra and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Moreover the microstructure and the optical properties of MoS2 samples were also measured by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). The photocatalytic performance of the flower-like MoS2 hemispheres were evaluated through the degradation of Rhodamine (RhB) and methylene blue (MB) solutions, and the stabilities of photo-catalysts were also studied through the three cycles of experiments. The effects on photo-catalytic performance from the initial pH values (3–9) of RhB and MB solutions were also investigated, indicating the samples present the optimal catalytic property at pH = 5.