Efficient charge separation promoting visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity of MnOx decorated WS2 hybrid nanosheets

Tungsten disulfide (WS2) has recently emerged as a narrow-band visible-light-driven photocatalyst; however, high recombination of photo-induced electrons and holes becomes a major concern to advance its photocatalytic performance. Here we for the first time adopt manganese oxide (MnOx) as a hole-trapping material to decorate WS2 nanosheets by photo-deposition in MnSO4 solution. The MnOx decorated WS2 (MnOx/WS2) is found to exhibit more negative flat band potential, lower impedance and higher photocurrent response compared with pure WS2. These features beneficial to charge transfer and separation render the MnOx/WS2 nanosheets highly active and visible-light-driven photocatalyst in RhB degradation. Further, the hole-trapping function of MnOx in promoting efficient charge separation of MnOx/WS2 is experimentally demonstrated. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V.