Synthesis of a hybrid nanocomposite: Incorporating MoS2 within a ZIF-8 for fluorescence-based detection and adsorption of tetracyclines antibiotics

Molybdenum disulfide quantum dots (MoS2 QDs), a transition-metal disulfide nanomaterial, have aroused an increasing attentions in the last 20 years. Zeolitic imidazolate framework 8 (ZIF-8), a kind of metal-organic frameworks (MOF), have been widely used for pollutant disposal, drug delivery, etc. Due to its well porousness and biocompatibility. We developed a novel course for the synthesis of MoS2 QDs under atmospheric pressure. Ammonium persulfate were introduced into the sodium molybdate and glutathione (GSH) solutions, and blue fluorescent MoS2 QDs can be obtained after heating at 60 °Cfor 2 h. The MoS2 QDs exhibited a redshift of fluorescence emission peak from 440 to 570 nm as excitation wavelength changed from 360 to 460 nm. Furthermore, MoS2 QDs were further encapsulated in ZIF-8, and the prepared nanohybrids (named as MoS2@MOF) were successfully applied into the fluorescence detection antibiotics including tetracycline (TC), oxytetracycline (OTC) and chlorotetracycline (CTC) based on different fluorescent response mode. Moreover, MoS2@MOF exhibited excellent adsorption performance for TC, OTC and CTC. The maximum adsorption capacity for TC, OTC or CTC after 300 min incubation of MoS2@MOF can reach 163, 154 or 197 mg g−1.