Fabrication of MoS2@g-C3N4 core-shell nanospheres for visible light photocatalytic degradation of toluene

The semiconductor-based photocatalytic oxidation process is considered as one of the most economical and environmentally friendly approach for the degradation of toluene. For the sake of exploring an efficient visible-light-driven photocatalysts, the MoS2@g-C3N4 core-shell nanospheres were successfully fabricated by taking the advantages of the morphology and structure of materials tailoring and semiconductor coupling, via a two-step approach including the hydrothermal method followed by ultrasonic adhering approach. The morphology, crystallinity, composition, and optical property of as-prepared catalysts were well characterized. The core-shell structure was fabricated by using MoS2 as the template and the coating of g-C3N4 improved the separation of photoinduced charges, due to the strong electronic interaction between them. The photocatalytic activity of MoS2@g-C3N4 core-shell nanospheres had been investigated by the degradation of toluene under visible light irradiation using in situ Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The MoS2@g-C3N4 nanospheres displayed enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity, which is about 1.3 and 9.6 times than that of g-C3N4 and MoS2 nanospheres under identical conditions. Electron spin resonance (ESR) examinations confirmed the generation of center dot OH and center dot O-2(-), which were the key reactive oxygen species involved in the photocatalytic process.