Photocatalytic activity of 3D flower-like MoS 2 hemispheres

Abstract The novel 3D flower-like MoS 2 hemispheres assembled by ultrathin MoS 2 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 MoS 2 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 MoS 2 samples were also measured by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). The photocatalytic performance of the flower-like MoS 2 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.