A novel WO3/MoS2 photocatalyst applied to the decolorization of the textile dye Reactive Blue 198

A novel FTO/WO3 electrode decorated with MoS2 was constructed using two simple and low-cost techniques involving a modified single-step sol-gel method for the WO3 film together with the electrodeposition of amorphous MoS2. The photoelectrocatalytic performance of the material was investigated by monitoring the degradation of Reactive Blue 198 dye under visible-light irradiation. The FTO/WO3/MoS2 electrode exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity and afforded total decolorization of the dye after 90 min at low applied current density (5 mA cm(-2)). The results described herein support the view that MoS2 acts as a noble metal-free cocatalyst by promoting H-2 evolution and assisting in the suppression of electron/hole pair recombination in the photocatalytic material (WO3), thereby improving the process of decolorization of the dye solution. The novel approach of combining of the WO3 and MoS2 materials shows particular promise and may prove to be very effective in the photocatalytic degradation of other hazardous organic compounds. (AU)