PHOTO(ELECTRO)CATALYTIC POTENTIAL OF SUSTAINABLY DERIVED MoS2-WO3 BASED COMPOSITE

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) is a low-cost n-type semiconductor, characteristic of a band gap of 1.2–1.9 eV and a versatile structure that enables multifunctional properties crucial for various applications [1]. For instance, the photocatalytic/electrochemical properties of MoS2 can be effectively exploited for green hydrogen production or the degradation of organic wastewater pollutants [2]. Nevertheless, MoS2 alone may suffer from fast charge recombination or photocorrosion, which can worsen photo(electro)chemical performance. To address these limitations, forming a heterostructure with tungsten oxide (WO₃) is considered an effective strategy to enhance the functional properties of MoS₂. In addition, the aim of this work was to synthesize MoS2-WO­3 ­composite and to investigate its potential as a photo(electro)catalyst. A sustainable synthesis approach was employed using ascorbic acid as a green reducing agent to produce MoS₂. Specifically, MoS2-WO3 ­based composites were synthesized via hydrothermal method at a temperature of 180-220 °C for 8-16 h. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The particle size distribution of the samples was also measured, and the band gap of the synthesized products was determined using UV-visible spectroscopy. Photocatalytic properties were determined by degrading Rhodamine B. Lastly, electrochemical properties of the samples were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The findings of this research revealed that under the applied hydrothermal conditions, defect-rich 2H MoS₂ was formed. The tested MoS2-WO3 ­based composites also exhibited strong photo(electro)chemical response. In addition, the obtained results demonstrated the synergistic effect of the MoS₂-WO₃ heterostructure, highlighting its promising potential for efficient and sustainable photo(electro)catalytic applications.