Molybdenum Disulfide (MoS2): An Emerging Multifunctional Nanomaterial for Sensing and Removal of Agricultural Contaminants

Abstract

The pressure for agriculture security is a problem that affects human community at multiple levels, involving the production of agricultural commodities, the management of agricultural water and soil, and postharvest transport and storage. To date, agriculture security is increasingly becoming a challenge due to the abuse of chemicals, the indiscriminate discharge of wastewater, and the improper storage of agricultural products. As such, the determination and removal of hazardous contaminants in agricultural production chains are indispensable. As a fascinating semiconductor, molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂), with controllable structure, appealing photoelectric properties, and superior physicochemical stability, is regarded as a promising material for the control of agricultural contaminants. This critical review summarizes the synthetic strategies for MoS₂ and related efforts for agricultural contaminant control. It begins with the synthetic methods of the materials based on different principles. Subsequently, the determination and removal strategies based on MoS₂ and its composites are discussed. The third part focuses on the description of MoS₂-based platforms for control of different agricultural contaminants (heavy metals, pesticides, mycotoxins, antibiotics, and organic dyes). Finally, the challenges and potential opportunities for MoS₂ application in modern agriculture are discussed.