Heteroepitaxial Growth of 1T MoS₂ Nanosheets on SnO₂ with Synergetic Improvement on Photocatalytic Activity

Molybdenum disulfide has promising applications from electronics to catalysis. Facile controlled synthesis of desired MoS₂ phase and improving optical and electrical properties of MoS₂ are under intensive investigation. The significant enhancement in photocatalytic activity is found in the heteroepitaxial structure of 1T MoS₂ and SnO₂ constructed using convenient hydrothermal method compared to 1T MoS₂. High-resolution transmission electronic microscopy demonstrates epitaxial growth of 1T MoS₂ nanosheets on SnO₂ nanoparticle based on an epitaxial relationship of zone axis MoS₂[100]//SnO₂[(Formula presented.)] and MoS₂[100]//SnO₂[(Formula presented.)] and plane MoS₂(011)//SnO₂(011) in both cases. Serving as substrate for growth of desired 1T MoS₂ phase, smaller grain-sized SnO₂ is in favor of more effective epitaxial growth of 1T MoS₂. The epitaxial structure formed between 1T MoS₂ and SnO₂ of 3–5 nm ensures stable electron transfer and thus a much-improved photocatalytic activity. Direct evidence of epitaxial construction of desired 1T MoS₂ nanosheets on SnO₂ nanoparticles is provided, which accounts for the synergetic improvement on photocatalytic activity of MoS₂–SnO₂ composite photocatalysts.