Fabrication of novel g-C 3 N 4 based MoS 2 and Bi 2 O 3 nanorod embedded ternary nanocomposites for superior photocatalytic performance and destruction of bacteria

Highly efficient g-C 3 N 4 based MoS 2 /Bi 2 O 3 nanorod embedded novel nanocomposites (g-C 3 N 4 /MoS 2 /Bi 2 O 3 ) were effectively fabricated by a hydrothermal–calcination method. The chemical composition, deep morphology, structure, optical absorption, and photocatalytic properties of the as-obtained g-C 3 N 4 /MoS 2 /Bi 2 O 3 photocatalysts were considered and discussed. The HR-TEM results obviously suggested that the MoS 2 /Bi 2 O 3 nanorods were well dispersed on the g-C 3 N 4 surface without clear aggregation. The superior photocatalytic efficacy of the g-C 3 N 4 /MoS 2 /Bi 2 O 3 nanocomposites under visible-light irradiation has been evaluated by methylene blue (MB) dye photodegradation. After 90 min of visible-light exposure, close to 98.5% decolourization was attained and the removal rate of MB dye of the g-C 3 N 4 /MoS 2 /Bi 2 O 3 photocatalyst was 1.4 and 3.6 fold larger than that of the as-obtained g-C 3 N 4 and g-C 3 N 4 -MoS 2 photocatalysts, respectively. The greater photocatalytic action of g-C 3 N 4 /MoS 2 /Bi 2 O 3 nanocomposites might be inhibited by recombination and increased migration/separation of photo-excited charges (e − /h + ), smaller bandgap, and their consistent absorption of visible-light as well. In addition, the as-prepared nanocomposites exhibited better antibacterial activity against both E. coli and S. aureus bacteria. Also, these novel g-C 3 N 4 /MoS 2 /Bi 2 O 3 nanocomposites have great potential for visible-light induced destruction of organic dyes in industrial wastewater.