Designing a novel valuable photocatalyst Bi₂MoO₆ infused MoS₂ nanocomposites for removal of organic dyes under UV light

Abstract

The significant environmental problem of dye pollution caused by industrial wastewater is often not adequately addressed by conventional effluent treatment methods. The present study has explored the possibility of using nanotechnology to address this issue through the development of a Bi₂MoO₆/MoS₂ nanocomposite for the photocatalytic breakdown of organic dyes using the co-precipitation technique. The prepared nanocomposite was well characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to confirm the structural, morphological, and chemical properties. The photocatalytic activity tests, performed under UV light, revealed that the nanocomposite Bi₂MoO₆/MoS₂ degraded Rose Bengal and Acid Blue dyes to an efficiency of about 83 % and 82 %, respectively. The stability of the photocatalyst was also checked for five runs in a row, so that its performance remained the same with minimal loss in activity. These results show the great potential of Bi₂MoO₆/MoS₂ nanocomposite to be a highly efficient and stable photocatalyst for dye degradation, hence providing a promising solution for mitigating dye pollution in industrial wastewater.