One-step photodeposition synthesis of TiO.sub.2 nanobelts/MoS.sub.2 quantum dots/rGO ternary composite with remarkably enhanced photocatalytic activity

Constructing a composite photocatalyst with distinct structures is an efficient mean to improve the charge transfer/separation ability and increase the active sites of TiO.sub.2-based photocatalyst. For the first time, we synthesized a TiO.sub.2 nanobelts/MoS.sub.2 quantum dots (QDs)/rGO (TiO.sub.2/MoS.sub.2/rGO) ternary photocatalyst via a facile one-step photodeposition method. TiO.sub.2 nanobelts provide photoinduced electrons that facilitate formation and self-assembling of MoS.sub.2 QDs and rGO. The TiO.sub.2/MoS.sub.2/rGO ternary composites present two different structures: One is a composite structure of graphene-wrapped TiO.sub.2 nanobelt/MoS.sub.2 QDs, and the other is composed of graphene-supported TiO.sub.2 nanobelts and MoS.sub.2 QDs. Both configurations facilitate the separation of photoinduced electron-hole pairs and charge transfer. The heterostructure of zero-dimensional MoS.sub.2 QDs, one-dimensional TiO.sub.2 nanobelts, and two-dimensional graphenes endows the photocatalyst with the integrated advantages of these nanomaterials with different dimensions and provides a substantial number of active sites for photocatalytic reactions. The TiO.sub.2/MoS.sub.2/rGO ternary composites degraded rhodamine B at a rate constant that is 8.72 times faster than that of pristine TiO.sub.2 nanobelt. This study presents a facile method to synthesize an inexpensive multi-composite photocatalyst with high efficiency for renewable energy production and environmental treatments.