Facile Synthesis of MoS2-C60Nanocomposites and Their Application to Catalytic Reduction and Photocatalytic Degradation

MoS₂ precursors were synthesized by reacting thioacetamide ( C₂H₅NS ) with sodium molybdate dihydrate ( Na₂MoO₄·2H₂O ) in aqueous HCl solution. MoS₂ nanoparticles were prepared from dried MoS₂ precursors by calcination in an electric furnace at 700∘C for 2 h under an inert argon atmosphere. MoS₂-C₆₀ nanocomposites were obtained by heating MoS₂ nanoparticles and fullerene ( C₆₀ ) together in an electric furnace at 700∘C for 2 h. Their morphological and the structural properties were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The MoS₂ nanoparticles and MoS₂-C₆₀ nanocomposites were used as catalysts in the reductions of 2-, 3-, and 4-nitrophenol in the presence of sodium borohydride. The photocatalytic activities of the MoS₂ nanoparticles and MoS₂-C₆₀ nanocomposites were evaluated in the degradation of organic dyes (brilliant green, methylene blue, methyl orange, and rhodamine B) under ultraviolet light (254 nm).