Hydrothermal synthesis of 1T-WS2 nanosheets with excellent adsorption performance for dye removal from wastewater

[Display omitted] •A facile hydrothermal method was used to prepare 1T-WS2 nanosheets.•High adsorption activity and ultrafast adsorption rate for MB was achieved by WS2.•WS2 adsorbents showed excellent acid and alkali-resistant, heat resistant properties.•The ultrasound played an important role in boosting the fast adsorption process. The 1T-WS2 semiconductors were synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method and characterized by a series of technologies. The WS2 adsorbents showed excellent adsorption performances (210.2 mg/g) and ultrafast adsorption rate (2 min) toward methylene blue (MB) under ultrasound. The high adsorption capacity was attributed to its multilayer structure and large surface area, which provided more easily accessible adsorption sites for MB. Moreover, the adsorption capability of this material exhibited satisfactory tolerance against the changes in both pH and adsorption temperature.