A heterostructural MoS2QDs@UiO-66 nanocomposite for the highly efficient photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue under visible light and simulated sunlight

Abstract

The development of recyclable photocatalysts with high activity and stability has piqued the interest of researchers in the field of wastewater treatment. In this study, an ultrasonic probe approach was used to immerse a sequence of heterojunctions formed by metal–organic frameworks (UiO-66) and different amounts of molybdenum disulfide quantum dots (MoS₂QDs), resulting in a highly recyclable MoS₂QDs@UiO-66 photocatalyst. Multiple advanced techniques, such as XPS, XRD, TEM, XRF, and UV-vis spectrophotometry, were used to characterize and confirm the successful preparation of UIO-66 impregnated with MoS₂QDs. The results indicated that the best heterostructure catalyst exhibited superior efficiency in the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) in water, achieving approximately 99% removal within 30 minutes under simulated sunlight, while approximately 97% removal under visible light. The outstanding photocatalytic performance is predominantly attributed to the photoinduced separation of carriers in this heterostructure system. This study proposes a unique, simple, and low-cost method for improving the degradation performance of organic contaminants in water.