Highly photocatalytic active thiomolybdate [Mo3S13]2− clusters/BiOBr nanocomposite with enhanced sulfur tolerance

The sulfur tolerant Mo 3 S 13 2− /BiOBr nanocomposite photocatalysts were facilely fabricated by a hydrothermal method. The characterizations including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), UV–vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS) and photoluminescence (PL) investigate the structures, elemental composition, morphologies and photocatalytic activities of Mo 3 S 13 2− /BiOBr nanocomposite. The 5.0   wt% Mo 3 S 13 2− /BiOBr composite sample showed highest visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity for decolorization of organic dyes including Rhodamine B (RhB) and sulfure containing methylene blue (MB). The decolorization of RhB was dominated by the direct hole and the generated O 2 − radicals oxidation process . Our 5.0   wt% Mo 3 S 13 2− /BiOBr nanocomposite exhibited comparable photocatalytic activity as the state of art 1   wt% BiOBr/Pt composite for photocatalytic decolorization of RhB. The 5.0   wt% Mo 3 S 13 2− /BiOBr composite possessed better sulfur resistance than 1.0   wt% Pt/BiOBr composite.