Defect-engineered WO3-x@MoS2 hollow tube exhibiting enhanced Fenton-like and photocatalytic activities via electric field rearrangement and band alignment

Here we report a defect-engineered WO3−x @MoS2 hollow tube that exhibits not only enhanced Fenton-like activity but also improved photoactivity in a wide range of pH as a versatile platform for water purification. Its successful performance was achieved by tuning oxygen defect and band position and investigated using tetracycline degradation and E. coli inactivation experiments as concept demonstration. The activity of WO3−x @MoS2 can reach one to two orders of magnitude higher than that of other materials used in this work and the ecotoxicity of intermediates was largely reduced. It exhibits an intrinsic radical character for H2O2 decomposition under dark condition and an efficient photon utilization under visible light irradiation, which is clearly different from the conventional photocatalysts and Fenton reagents. The present strategy of combing the dark Fenton-like and photocatalytic activities extends the applications of the conventional photocatalysts and should be an efficient way of energy utilization. [Display omitted] •Defect-engineered WO3−x @MoS2 hollow tube with improved activities was prepared.•Electric field rearrangement and band alignment enhance the photon utilization.•Intrinsic radical character and high carrier separation lead to H2O2 and O2 reduction.•It exhibits versatilities for (photo-)Fenton-like catalysis in a wide range of pH.•Intermediates identification and software calculation confirm the ecotoxicity decrease.