Synthesis of bilayer MoS₂ nanosheets by a facile hydrothermal method and their methyl orange adsorption capacity

Highlights: • Hexagonal phase of MoS₂ nanosheets was synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method. • FE-SEM and TEM images show the sheets-like morphology of MoS₂. • Bilayer MoS₂ can be grown under the optimized mole ratio of 2:1 of S:Mo at 180 °C for 50 h. • The MoS₂ nanosheets possess high methyl orange adsorption capacity due to the large surface area. - Abstract: Molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) nanosheets have received significant attention recently due to the potential applications for exciting physics and technology. Here we show that MoS₂ nanosheets can be prepared by a facile hydrothermal method. The study of the properties of the MoS₂ nanosheets prepared at different conditions suggests that the mole ratio of precursors and hydrothermal time significantly influences the purity, crystalline quality and thermal stability of MoS₂. X-ray diffraction, Raman spectra and transmission electron microscopy results indicate that bilayer MoS₂ can be grown under an optimized mole ratio of 2:1 of S:Mo at 180 °C for 50 h. Moreover, such ultrathin nanosheets exhibit a prominent photoluminescence and possess high methyl orange adsorption capacity due to the large surface area, which can be potentially used in photodevice and photochemical catalyst