High aspect-ratio of MoS2 nanoribbons via a single-source precursor route for photocatalytic degradation

[Display omitted] •A facile and eco-friendly synthesis of MoS2 nanoribbons by a single-source precursor based solution route.•The successful synthesis of MoS2 nanoribbons with a length-diameter ratio more than 100.•The MoS2 nanoribbons possess high photocatalytic degradation activity. Ultra-thin MoS2 nanoribbons are becoming a promising candidate for photocatalysis due to their unique properties, such as nanoribbons-width-dependent bandgaps, high electronic density of states, and carrier transport in a certain direction. It is still a challenge to synthesize MoS2 nanoribbons in a facile, energy-saving and controllable way. Herein, MoS2 nanoribbons with an aspect ratio over 100 were synthesized by a single-source precursor solution route. Selective adsorption of 1-dodecanethiol on the 101¯0 of MoS2 causes the preferentially growth along the [0 0 0 1] direction, resulting in the formation of MoS2 nanoribbons. The MoS2 nanoribbons exhibit a high photocatalytic degradation activity and more than 92.0 % methyl orange can be degraded within 50 min.