Synthesis of MoS2 multi-wall nanotubes using wet chemical method with H2O2 as growth promoter

Abstract

This paper reports the synthesis of MoS2 multi-wall nanotubes (MWNTs) using a wet chemical method assisted by H2O2 solvent as a growth promoter for the first time. The influence of the calcination temperature on the morphology of the nanotubes is discussed. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) were used to characterize the as-prepared MoS2 MWNTs. The powder XRD measurement indicated a hexagonal phase of the MoS2 MWNTs. The addition of H2O2 solvent influenced the growth, and the mean length of the nanotubes was 100-300 nm with diameter of 20-30 nm. The synthetic conditions for optimization of the MoS2 MWNTs are also discussed. The calculated band gap energy is 2.57 eV. The MoS2 MWNTs exhibit higher photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under UV light irradiation for 60 min. The highest photocatalytic activity was obtained with the sample containing 0.5 wt% MoS2 MWNTs, with which more than 98% of the RhB was degraded within 60 min.