MoS2–GO nanocomposites synthesized via a hydrothermal hydrogel method for solar light photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue

•The molybdenum disulfide–graphene oxide (MoS2–GO) nanocomposite was synthesized via a one-step hydrothermal hydrogel method.•MoS2 and GO were composited fairly well in the obtained nanocomposites.•The electrons–hole pair recombination rate of MoS2 was greatly reduced via compositing with graphene.•The MoS2–GO nanocomposite exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance for the degradation of methylene blue under solar light irradiation. In this work, molybdenum disulfide–graphene oxide (MoS2–GO) composite hydrogel was prepared via a one-step hydrothermal method. The morphology and structure of the as-prepared hydrogels with different proportions of MoS2 and GO were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectra and UV–vis absorption spectroscopy. The photocatalytic performance of MoS2–GO nanocomposites was studied toward the degradation of methylene blue (MB). Results showed that the MoS2–GO nanocomposites exhibited improved photocatalytic activities in the degradation of MB with a maximum degradation rate of 99% under solar lights irradiation within 60min. The synthesized MoS2–GO composite hydrogel possesses great potential toward the development of newly synthesizable catalysts in the field of organic degradation in water.