Harvesting Insolation Using Mo–W–Sulfide Compound Nanoparticle Semiconductor as Photocatalyst: A Pollution Controlling Material

In this report, nanoparticles of Mo–W–sulfide compound, confirmed by XRD, SEM and EDX spectra, have been successfully synthesized using solid-state reactions. The as-synthesized material is found to be an efficient photocatalyst that can utilize a broad range of the solar spectra due to the presence of multiple optical band gaps (BG) that have been observed by analyzing UV–Visible spectra. The compound semiconductor nanoparticles show better photocatalytic activity than MoS₂ nanoparticles because of the combined effect of Mo and W leading to greater exciton pair generation. It is observed that the as-synthesized compound nanoparticles degrade dye methyl orange and rhodamine B very efficiently with 97% degradation in just 90 min. The as-synthesized compound can be a promising material to control dye-pollution through photocatalysis using the higher-intensity part of the solar spectrum, and thus providing an advantageous, eco-friendly and low-cost process.