Highly Active Binary Exfoliated MoS2 Sheet–Cu2O Nanocrystal Hybrids for Efficient Photocatalytic Pollutant Degradation

Abstract

Semiconductor–semiconductor binary photocatalysts with complementary band gaps and desirable conduction band (CB)/valence band (VB) potentials are considered as attractive photocatalysts. In this study, binary exfoliated MoS2 sheet–Cu2O nanocrystal (e-MoS2sheet–Cu2ONC) hybrids have been synthesized through direct growth of Cu2O nanocrystals on e-MoS2 sheets. Under visible light irradiation, electrons and holes are efficiently generated in the binary e-MoS2sheet–Cu2ONC hybrids. In addition, migration of electrons and holes is also accelerated into opposite e-MoS2 sheets and Cu2O nanocrystals, respectively. The efficient charge carrier formation and transfer in the e-MoS2sheet–Cu2ONC hybrids are attributed to their morphological and compositional features, which boost their photocatalytic performance toward methyl orange degradation.