Molten salt synthesis of WS2 and MoS2 nanosheets toward efficient gaseous elemental mercury capture

The development of high-efficient adsorbents for Hg-0 capture in a broad temperature window remains a big challenge. Transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) present great prospects owing to their two-dimensional layered structures and abundant active sulfur species. Here, tungsten disulfide (WS2) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheets are easily synthesized via a molten salt route and employed for Hg-0 sequestration. With the elevation of the annealing temperature, the Hg-0 capture ability of WS2 nanosheet gradually enhances, while MoS2 nanosheet first increases and then decreases. They both display good mercury removal performances in an enlarged temperature range of 60-260 degrees C. Acidic flue gas components (i.e., SO2 and NO) subtly interfere the mercury removal process, indicating the prospective application potentials of WS2 and MoS2 nanosheets in thermal plants.