Co doping induced photocurrent enhancement in photocatalyst MoS₂

A set of Co doped MoS₂ photocatalysts were prepared by hydrothermal method and are used in photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue. A high consistency of the photocurrents and photocatalytic MB degradation are found. The photocurrents in MoS₂ is improved greatly by Co doping, resulting in a high MB degradation up to 74% by 16% Co in molar ratio doped MoS₂. A higher or lower Co doping increase the out-of plane interaction in MoS₂, which reduces the active sites and the photocatlytic activity of these catalysts. The Co promotion in MoS₂ are efficient in both decreasing the interlayer Van der Waals force and increasing the electron generation and transfer, thus the photoefficiency of MoS₂.