MoS2 nanosheets assembly on Sb-SnO2 modified kaolinite nanoflakes for efficient catalytic hydrogenation

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ) is promising for aqueous-phase catalytic hydrogenation due to its two-dimensional morphology and abundant catalytic active sites, but limited by poor conductivity and hydrophobicity. Herein, a ternary FK/ATO/MoS 2 composite was fabricated by growing MoS 2 nanosheets on an antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO)-modified hydrophilic kaolinite nanoflakes (FK) via simple coprecipitation-hydrothermal method. Evaluated by the aqueous hydrogenation of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), the optimal composite with 25% Sb doping in ATO and 50% MoS 2 loading (FK/ATO/MoS 2 –50%) exhibits remarkably enhanced hydrogenation activities as compared to other catalysts, and the reaction rate constant is 0.0809 min −1 , 10 times higher than that of pure MoS 2 (0.0081 min −1 ). The improved performances are due to the synergistic contributions from the exposed active sites of MoS 2 , the conductivity of ATO, the hydrophilicity and dispersion of kaolinite. This work presents an efficient aqueous-phase hydrogenation catalyst and a general design strategy for synergistic “support–mediator–active component” catalytic systems.