Fabrication of 3D porous MoS₂-GO nanocomposite monolith as a promising adsorbent

Three-dimensional (3D) nanocomposite monolith containing MoS₂ nanoflakes, graphene oxide (GO) and amorphous SiO₂ was fabricated through a simple mixing process and hydrothermal treatment. Compared with GO monolith prepared under identical conditions, the MoS₂-GO monolith had larger specific surface area, smaller pore diameter, as well as much higher adsorption capacity for Cu²⁺ and Rhodamine B. Introducing amorphous SiO₂ into the end monolith by using tetraethyl orthosilicate as a reactant in the synthesis reduced shrinkage and produced a greater number of large pores (>1 μm pore diameter) in the monolith. The specific surface area and pore diameter of the MoS₂-GO monolith were 321.4 m² g^-1 and 11.71 nm, respectively. The higher adsorption capacity was ascribed to the presence of many S atoms in the MoS₂ nanoflakes inside the monolith.