In-situ fabrication of needle-shaped MIL-53(Fe) with 1T-MoS2 and study on its enhanced photocatalytic mechanism of ibuprofen

High photocatalytic hole-electron pairs separation efficiency and the wide use of inexpensive and earth-abundant materials as cocatalysts in most semiconductor-based photocatalytic systems are desired for improving the photocatalytic activity and practical application. Herein, we report a facile one-pot solvothermal approach of integrating stable metallic nonmetal materials 1T-MoS2 nanosheets with MIL-53(Fe) to form needle-shaped 1T-MoS2@MIL-53(Fe) (TSMF) composites. Interestingly, the introduction of 1T-MoS2 turns nonspecial-structured MIL-53(Fe) into needle-like structure and the BET analysis reveals that the optimal TSMF composites possess abundant coexistence of micropores and mesopores with a large surface area of 337 m2 g−1, which is about 16 folds higher than that of the pure MOFs. Meanwhile, it is remarkable that the photocatalytic rate of ibuprofen (IBP) by optimal TSMF nanocomposites has improved 7.5 and 9.4 times compared to the pristine MIL-53(Fe) and 1T-MoS2, respectively. The photocatalytic efficiency of TSMF composites enhances due to the emerging micropores, which can provide more adsorption and reaction sites. In addition, the formed compact and uniform interface contact between 1T-MoS2 sheets and MOF may dramatically accelerate the separation of the photo-induced charges, thus enhance the photocatalytic activity. We also study the photocatalytic mechanism combined the corresponding electrochemical testing and the photo-degradation intermediates identified by ion chromatography (IC) and LC–MS-MS, indicating that superoxide radicals (O2–), hydroxyl radical (OH) and electrons (e−) are the main active radicals in IBP photocatalysis and decarboxylation and hydroxylation are the main degradation pathways of IBP.