MoS2 nanosheets immobilized in porous microbeads as recoverable photocatalysts

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is a highly effective visible light photocatalyst when used as well-exfoliated 2D nanosheets. The ability to make effective use these properties is significantly compromised by the challenge of preventing nanosheet aggregation or restacking in fluid suspensions. We report a strategy for immobilizing chemically exfoliated MoS2 as single and few-layer nanosheets in porous crosslinked polymers prepared as microbeads. The polymeric support prevents aggregation of the nanosheets while permitting access to the nanomaterial by model organic compounds present in a surrounding fluid. Exposure to visible light results in high degradation yields (>99%) of these organic species in aqueous media, and the MoS2 nanosheets maintained their photocatalytic efficacy through multiple cycles of use. The recoverability of the porous beads and the persistent photocatalytic activity of the polymer-supported MoS2 offer the potential of realizing an effective, environmentally sustainable platform for photocatalytic degradation of dissolved solutes.