ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Simple synthesis of Ni-doped MoS₂ nanoparticles and their application as efficient photocatalyst: experiment and COMSOL simulation

Muhammad Farooq, Tahir Iqbal, K. N. Riaz, Atif Mossad Ali, and A. F. Abd El-Rehim

Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Gujrat, Hafiz Hayat Campus, Gujrat, Pakistan

E-mail: tahir.awan@uog.edu.pk

Received: 1 April 2022  Accepted: 8 August 2022

Abstract:

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are favorable and interesting class of materials for photocatalytic activities. Among TMDs, MoS₂ is one of the most potential photocatalyst. Nickel (Ni)-doped MoS₂ nanoparticles (urea-based surfactant) have been synthesized utilizing a simple and cost-effective hydrothermal method. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) have been performed to analyze the morphological and structural properties. The results of XRD describe complete doping of Ni into MoS₂. The images of SEM indicate the formation of rodlike nanostructures in pure MoS₂, whereas lamellar flower-like structures are found in Ni-doped MoS₂. Bandgap energy of pure and doped MoS₂ was measured by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy which depicts declining trend in range of 1.96–1.72 eV from pure to 3% Ni-doped MoS₂. The photocatalysis of prepared nanoparticles was performed by measuring decomposition of methylene blue (MB) dye under visible light. Degradation efficiencies of MB dye were 65% and 95% for pure and 3% Ni-doped MoS₂. However, the degradation of MB dye was reduced when content of Ni into MoS₂ increased from 3 to 7%. The rate constant (of degradation efficiency) of pure MoS₂ nanoparticles was also calculated by using simulation (through COMSOL 5.3a) which was 0.00539 min⁻¹ as compared to experimental value 0.00551 mint⁻¹. Reusability and scavenger effect were also analyzed by performing 5 cycles of degradation of dye and 3 different scavengers by optimal MoS₂.

Graphical abstract

Keywords: MoS2; Nickel; SEM; XRD; EDX; Photocatalysis; UV; PL; COMSOL simulation

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-022-02422-7

Chemical Papers 76 (12) 7493–7506 (2022)