Affiliation: | 1. Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, 45110 Greece;2. Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences, Foundation of Research and Technology Hellas, Rio Patras, 26504 Greece;3. Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences, Foundation of Research and Technology Hellas, Rio Patras, 26504 Greece Department of Physics, University of Patras, Patras, 26504 Greece;4. Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, 45110 Greece University Research Center of Ioannina (URCI), Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Ioannina, 45110 Greece |
Abstract: | Among the various organic pollutants and industrial chemicals, 4-nitrophenol has been one of the most monitored substances in aqueous environments, due to its enhanced solubility in such systems. This research reports for the first time the microwave-assisted synthesis of CdS/carbon/MoSx hybrids and the subsequent utilization of such systems as photocatalysts for 4-nitrophenol degradation. The hybrids demonstrated a variable photocatalytic activity, by using a variety of organic substances as precursors for the solvothermal carbonization step. By using ascorbic acid as precursor, the corresponding ternary composite exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity, with the 4-nitrophenol concentration been almost quantitatively decayed within 45 min of irradiation. This could be ascribed due to the generation of a high population of heterojunctions as well as the chemical speciation of Mo-based nanostructures. Such ternary hybrids may be utilized as potential photocatalytic systems in processes, where removal of toxic water-soluble substances is the key issue. |