Solvent-exfoliation of transition-metal dichalcogenide MoS2 to provide more active sites for enhancing photocatalytic performance of BiOIO3/g-C3N4 photocatalyst

The ternary complex photocatalysts of BiOIO₃/g-C₃N₄/MoS₂ by solvent-exfoliation method was synthesized for the first time. In the typical procedure, the BiOIO₃/g-C₃N₄ was obtained via hydrothermal synthesis technique, and then the BiOIO₃/g-C₃N₄/MoS₂ photocatalysts were prepared via ultrasonic solvent-exfoliation method from bulk commercial MoS₂ in the alcohol solution. The samples of BiOIO₃/g-C₃N₄/MoS₂ were analyzed by PL, XRD and other characterization analysis methods. The photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared samples was investigated by removing gas phase mercury irradiation under visible light. The as-prepared BCM-0.3 exhibits excellent photocatalytic performance, being with the highest efficiency of 70.58%. Owing to the electronic channels of field-effect, an internal electric field was formed through the corresponding band-gap engineering, improving photocatalytic reaction. Besides, the excellent activity of the ternary photocatalysts BiOIO₃/g-C₃N₄/MoS₂ is attributed to heterostructure between BiOIO₃/g-C₃N₄ and MoS₂, which enlarges spectral response and improved separation efficiency of charge carriers, and MoS₂-composing, which provides more active sites for catalytic oxidation. In addition, the as-prepared samples with excellent photocatalytic performance also offer a perspective insight into the hydrogen evolution, CO₂ conversion and degradation of organic pollutants.