Abstract

The increasing prevalence of pharmaceutical contaminants within the aquatic environment has generated considerable environmental concerns, especially regarding persistent anticancer medications like the kinase inhibitor sorafenib (SRF), which are inadequately eliminated by standard degradation methods. A heterointerface-engineered MoS₂/WS2, 2D/2D layered nanocomposite was fabricated using an electrochemical exfoliation method to facilitate effective visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of SRF. The electrochemical exfoliation method yielded ultrathin 9.62-layer thickness MoS₂/WS₂ nanosheets with numerous exposed edge sites and an increased specific surface area, facilitating the development of well-interconnected van der Waals heterointerfaces. Comprehensive structural and morphological examinations utilizing field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman spectroscopy, and UV-visible spectroscopy validated the effective synthesis of few-layer nanosheets and their heterostructure interfaces. In contrast to the pure MoS₂ and WS₂ nanosheets, the MoS₂/WS₂ heterostructure composite demonstrated significantly enhanced photocatalytic efficacy, attaining roughly 92 % degradation of SRF within 2 h under visible-light exposure. The enhanced catalytic efficiency is mainly due to the establishment of a Type-II band alignment at the MoS₂/WS₂ interface, facilitating effective charge separation and directional charge transfer while inhibiting electron–hole recombination. The robust interfacial interaction among the transition metal dichalcogenide layers accelerates visible-light absorption and the production of reactive oxygen species. This study illustrates that electrochemically exfoliated MoS₂/WS₂ heterostructure composites serve as a viable catalytic platform for the successful removal of persistent pharmaceutical pollutants.

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of pharmaceutical contaminants within the aquatic environment has generated considerable environmental concerns, especially regarding persistent anticancer medications like the kinase inhibitor sorafenib (SRF), which are inadequately eliminated by standard degradation methods. A heterointerface-engineered MoS₂/WS2, 2D/2D layered nanocomposite was fabricated using an electrochemical exfoliation method to facilitate effective visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of SRF. The electrochemical exfoliation method yielded ultrathin 9.62-layer thickness MoS₂/WS₂ nanosheets with numerous exposed edge sites and an increased specific surface area, facilitating the development of well-interconnected van der Waals heterointerfaces. Comprehensive structural and morphological examinations utilizing field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman spectroscopy, and UV-visible spectroscopy validated the effective synthesis of few-layer nanosheets and their heterostructure interfaces. In contrast to the pure MoS₂ and WS₂ nanosheets, the MoS₂/WS₂ heterostructure composite demonstrated significantly enhanced photocatalytic efficacy, attaining roughly 92 % degradation of SRF within 2 h under visible-light exposure. The enhanced catalytic efficiency is mainly due to the establishment of a Type-II band alignment at the MoS₂/WS₂ interface, facilitating effective charge separation and directional charge transfer while inhibiting electron–hole recombination. The robust interfacial interaction among the transition metal dichalcogenide layers accelerates visible-light absorption and the production of reactive oxygen species. This study illustrates that electrochemically exfoliated MoS₂/WS₂ heterostructure composites serve as a viable catalytic platform for the successful removal of persistent pharmaceutical pollutants.

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of pharmaceutical contaminants within the aquatic environment has generated considerable environmental concerns, especially regarding persistent anticancer medications like the kinase inhibitor sorafenib (SRF), which are inadequately eliminated by standard degradation methods. A heterointerface-engineered MoS₂/WS2, 2D/2D layered nanocomposite was fabricated using an electrochemical exfoliation method to facilitate effective visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of SRF. The electrochemical exfoliation method yielded ultrathin 9.62-layer thickness MoS₂/WS₂ nanosheets with numerous exposed edge sites and an increased specific surface area, facilitating the development of well-interconnected van der Waals heterointerfaces. Comprehensive structural and morphological examinations utilizing field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman spectroscopy, and UV-visible spectroscopy validated the effective synthesis of few-layer nanosheets and their heterostructure interfaces. In contrast to the pure MoS₂ and WS₂ nanosheets, the MoS₂/WS₂ heterostructure composite demonstrated significantly enhanced photocatalytic efficacy, attaining roughly 92 % degradation of SRF within 2 h under visible-light exposure. The enhanced catalytic efficiency is mainly due to the establishment of a Type-II band alignment at the MoS₂/WS₂ interface, facilitating effective charge separation and directional charge transfer while inhibiting electron–hole recombination. The robust interfacial interaction among the transition metal dichalcogenide layers accelerates visible-light absorption and the production of reactive oxygen species. This study illustrates that electrochemically exfoliated MoS₂/WS₂ heterostructure composites serve as a viable catalytic platform for the successful removal of persistent pharmaceutical pollutants.

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of pharmaceutical contaminants within the aquatic environment has generated considerable environmental concerns, especially regarding persistent anticancer medications like the kinase inhibitor sorafenib (SRF), which are inadequately eliminated by standard degradation methods. A heterointerface-engineered MoS₂/WS2, 2D/2D layered nanocomposite was fabricated using an electrochemical exfoliation method to facilitate effective visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of SRF. The electrochemical exfoliation method yielded ultrathin 9.62-layer thickness MoS₂/WS₂ nanosheets with numerous exposed edge sites and an increased specific surface area, facilitating the development of well-interconnected van der Waals heterointerfaces. Comprehensive structural and morphological examinations utilizing field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman spectroscopy, and UV-visible spectroscopy validated the effective synthesis of few-layer nanosheets and their heterostructure interfaces. In contrast to the pure MoS₂ and WS₂ nanosheets, the MoS₂/WS₂ heterostructure composite demonstrated significantly enhanced photocatalytic efficacy, attaining roughly 92 % degradation of SRF within 2 h under visible-light exposure. The enhanced catalytic efficiency is mainly due to the establishment of a Type-II band alignment at the MoS₂/WS₂ interface, facilitating effective charge separation and directional charge transfer while inhibiting electron–hole recombination. The robust interfacial interaction among the transition metal dichalcogenide layers accelerates visible-light absorption and the production of reactive oxygen species. This study illustrates that electrochemically exfoliated MoS₂/WS₂ heterostructure composites serve as a viable catalytic platform for the successful removal of persistent pharmaceutical pollutants.