One-step photodeposition synthesis of TiO 2 nanobelts/MoS 2 quantum dots/rGO ternary composite with remarkably enhanced photocatalytic activity

Constructing a composite photocatalyst with distinct structures is an efficient mean to improve the charge transfer/separation ability and increase the active sites of TiO2-based photocatalyst. For the first time, we synthesized a TiO2 nanobelts/MoS2 quantum dots (QDs)/rGO (TiO2/MoS2/rGO) ternary photocatalyst via a facile one-step photodeposition method. TiO2 nanobelts provide photoinduced electrons that facilitate formation and self-assembling of MoS2 QDs and rGO. The TiO2/MoS2/rGO ternary composites present two different structures: One is a composite structure of graphene-wrapped TiO2 nanobelt/MoS2 QDs, and the other is composed of graphene-supported TiO2 nanobelts and MoS2 QDs. Both configurations facilitate the separation of photoinduced electron–hole pairs and charge transfer. The heterostructure of zero-dimensional MoS2 QDs, one-dimensional TiO2 nanobelts, and two-dimensional graphenes endows the photocatalyst with the integrated advantages of these nanomaterials with different dimensions and provides a substantial number of active sites for photocatalytic reactions. The TiO2/MoS2/rGO ternary composites degraded rhodamine B at a rate constant that is 8.72 times faster than that of pristine TiO2 nanobelt. This study presents a facile method to synthesize an inexpensive multi-composite photocatalyst with high efficiency for renewable energy production and environmental treatments.