Constructing flower-like MoS 2 /ZnIn 2 S 4 microspheres for efficient visible light-driven photocatalytic removal of hexavalent chromium

Photocatalytic removal of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) based on semiconductor is important under visible light for environment and energy. Herein, a visible light-responsive heterojunction composed of molybdenum disulfide and zinc indium sulfide was synthesized through a simple one-pot hydrothermal method to ensure full contact between the two components to efficiently improve the Cr(VI) reduction. The MoS 2 /ZnIn 2 S 4 composites build heterojunctions between MoS 2 and ZnIn 2 S 4 to inhibit recombination of photogenerated holes and electrons and provide the reaction sites to trap photogenerated electrons to participate in the reduction of Cr(VI). The highly efficient reduction of Cr(VI) was obtained by adjusting the proportion of molybdenum disulfide. It demonstrates that the 0.5 wt% MoS 2 /ZnIn 2 S 4 composite microstructures show the highest degradation rate of 0.1989 s −1 under visible light irradiation, 1.7 times of bare ZnIn 2 S 4 . Moreover, the MoS 2 /ZnIn 2 S 4 showed excellent stability during photocatalytic recyclable processes. This work encourages researchers to remove Cr(VI) by constructing effective heterojunction structures.