Development of MoS2 heterostructures and their application in heterogeneous photocatalysis

Abstract

Heterogeneous Photocatalysis, one of the Advanced Oxidative Processes, is characterized by the use of irradiated semiconductors and has been widely used in the treatment of effluents. This process arouses interest because of the possibility of using solar energy in promoting relevant chemical reactions. The possibility of applying semiconductors is due to the electronic structure presented by these compounds, which contains bands that when excited present photogenerated charges with potential able to promote a large range of reactions. TiO2, the most studied semiconductor in the process, has as limiting high photogenerated charges recombination rate and can be excited only when irradiated by UV energy. A way to overcome these problems is the formation of heterostructures. In this scenario the MoS2 becomes interesting, since it has suitable lamellar structure for interaction with contaminants and electronic bands that makes possible excitation in the visible region of the spectra. Thus, this project proposes the synthesis of heterostructures containing MoS2 and other oxides, TiO2 and Bi2O2(CO3), and the study of their photocatalytic properties against the degradation of organic contaminants in water. The characterization of the materials will be done, in principle, by X-ray diffractometry, infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Photocatalytic efficiency tests will be performed observing via electronic spectroscopy the degradation of contaminants. Thus, this work intends to collaborate with the understanding of the synthesis variants of heterostructures containing MoS2 and its applicability in reactions of environmental interest.