One-step hydrothermal growth of MoS₂ nanosheets/CdS nanoparticles heterostructures on montmorillonite for enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity

Montmorillonite@MoS₂/CdS composite materials (Mt@MoS₂/CdS) were successfully prepared through one-step hydrothermal growth of MoS₂ nanosheets/CdS nanoparticles heterostructures on the surface of montmorillonite. The photocatalytic activity of samples was evaluated by degradation of organic dye Rhodamine B, and the ratio of MoS₂ and CdS was optimized. The microstructure and morphology characterization indicates that MoS₂ nanosheets and CdS nanoparticles are assembled on the surface of montmorillonite with the interface interaction, which have smaller size and higher dispersibility in composites. Mt@MoS₂/CdS composites have large special surface area, high visible light absorption and low recombination rate of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Mt@MoS₂/CdS-7 exhibits the highest adsorption rate and photocatalytic activity, and the overall removal rate of RhB was up to 98.8% after visible light irradiation for 45 min. The special structure of montmorillonite and MoS₂/CdS heterostructures could enhance visible light photocatalytic activity of composites through a synergistic effect, and the possible photocatalytic reaction mechanism was explored. The Mt@MoS₂/CdS composites show prospective application for photocatalytic degradation of organic dye in wastewater under visible light irradiation.