Fabrication of alginate-derived MoS₂@C photocatalyst with enhanced visible-light activity for tetracycline degradation

Abstract

It is undoubtedly a challenge to design an efficient and recyclable photocatalyst for the degradation of tetracycline (TC). In this study, a MoS₂@C composite catalyst was fabricated through the simple sulfurization of alginate-based spheres encapsulating ammonium molybdate by thiourea. The incorporation of porous carbon as a co-catalyst significantly augmented reactive active sites, endowing it with great specific surface area and effectively preventing the aggregation of MoS₂ nanoparticles. While offering abundant catalytic sites for the reaction, the structure with interconnected channels promoted the adsorption of the reactant. The MoS₂@C composites showed excellent photocatalytic performance, achieving a photodegradation ratio of 87.01% for TC within 60 min, superior to that of pure MoS₂. Additionally, the photocatalytic mechanism for the degradation of TC was also investigated through free radical trapping experiments in combination with the electron spin resonance technique.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

photocatalytic degradation / 3D porous carbon / MoS ₂ / tetracycline / sodium alginate

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