A novel ternary MoS2/MoO3/TiO2 composite for fast photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B under visible-light irradiation

Abstract

In this article, novel ternary MoS₂/MoO₃/TiO₂ composite catalysts were developed. The photocatalytic performance of the ternary MoS₂/MoO₃/TiO₂ composites was evaluated by photo-degradation of rhodamine B (RhB). It was found that the photocatalytic ability of the composites was strongly dependent on the mass ratio of MoS₂–MoO₃ to MoS₂–MoO₃–TiO₂. The ternary composite catalyst with optimum composition showed a fast degradation rate (maximum ∼0.138 min⁻¹), which could degrade over 95% of RhB solution (10 mg L⁻¹) within 20 min under visible light (λ > 420 nm) irradiation. The possible photocatalytic mechanism was proposed based on the trapping photocatalytic experiment and band alignment of the composite. The synergistic effect of the strong absorption of the catalyst and the efficient separation of photogenerated electron–hole pairs by the novel ternary composite contributed to the enhanced photocatalytic activity.