MoS2-coupled coniferous ZnO for photocatalytic degradation of dyes

•MoS2-coupled coniferous ZnO was prepared and characterized in this study.•Heterojunction formation between MoS2 and ZnO contributed to an enhanced photocatalytic activity.•MoS2-coupled coniferous ZnO can be reused at least five times for the photocatalytic degradation. The modification of ZnO through structural engineering and coupling with different 2D materials as a photocatalyst has received considerable attention. Few studies have reported the coupling of 2D material, MoS2, with ZnO for photocatalysis. However, no study has been conducted on MoS2-coupled coniferous T-shaped ZnO and its photocatalytic performance to the best of our knowledge. In this study, the flame transport synthesis technique was employed for the preparation of coniferous T-shaped ZnO (T-ZnO). The as-prepared coniferous-like T-ZnO was coupled with MoS2 by hydrothermal treatment at 200 °C for 18 h and used for the photocatalytic dye removal. After coupling with MoS2, T-ZnO and spherical O-shape (O-ZnO) exhibited improved photocatalytic activities for the removal of dyes (methyl blue (MB) and rhodamine B (RhB)). Thanks to the heterojunction formation between MoS2 and ZnO, the electron transfer could be facilitated, evidenced by the small Tafel slope with a value of approximately 95.6 mv dec‒1. Moreover, the MoS2@T-ZnO sample could be recycled for photocatalytic MB removal at least 5 times. Our results suggested that the coupling of MoS2 over structural-engineered ZnO could be an alternative approach to further improving the photocatalytic activity of ZnO. [Display omitted]