HYDROTHERMAL SYNTHESIS OF THE FLOWER-LIKE MoS2 NANOSHEETS MICROSPHERES AND ITS PHOTOCATALYTIC DEGRADATION OF METHYL ORANGE

The flower-like MoS2 microspheres were synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method using Na2MoO4·2H2O, C2H2O4·2H2O, SC(NH2)2 and de-ionized water as precursors. The morphology and crystal structure of the MoS2 microspheres were characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The as-prepared MoS2 microspheres were used as a catalyst for photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange. The effect of the size of the MoS2 microspheres and catalyst dosage amount on photocatalytic activity were investigated. The results indicate that the MoS2 powder consists of the flower-like nanosheet microspheres formed by several nanosheets gathered together perpendicular to the spherical surface, and the diameter of the MoS2 microspheres decreases with increasing the concentration of oxalic acid in the precursor. The MoS2 microspheres are with hexagonal 2H-MoS2 structure and preferentially grow along the (002) plane. It is found that the best photocatalytic degradation efficiency is 79.0% within irradiation time of 120 min under MoS2 dosage amount of 1.33 g/L and methyl orange concentration of 20mg/L.