Synthesis of ZnO/MoS₂ heterojunction with the green Ag nanoparticles for the efficient sunlight photocatalytic activity

Pristine MoS₂ nanosheet/silver nanoparticles (MoS₂/Ag NPs) and composites are fabricated via hydrothermal, green synthesis, and chemical methods. Pristine MoS₂, Ag, Z/M, and Z/M/Ag nanoparticles and composites are characterized through SEM, FTIR, as well as UV–Vis spectroscopy. The bandgap of materials is reduced effectively which is useful for photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic decomposition of pharmaceutical drugs in effluent has been researched using metal-oxide or metal-sulfide-based semiconductor nanoparticles as nano-catalysts. The originality of these nano-catalyst substances lies in their relative simplicity of manufacturing, capacity to absorb energy in the UV–visible spectrum, large bandgap, innoxious, and inexpensive. The visible-light photocatalytic activity of Z/M also Z/M/Ag composites were investigated using a test of OTC. Almost degradation of OTC in about 120 min. at different concentrations of composites, Z/M/Ag photocatalyst was attained. This substantial enhancement in the photocatalytic proficiency of Z/M/Ag photo-catalyst below visible light ir-radiation may be ascribed to existence of MoS₂ and Ag micro-particles on ZnO micro-particles which significantly improves absorption in an observable scale of the visible range.