Fabrication of 3D porous MoS2–GO nanocomposite monolith as a promising adsorbent

Abstract Three-dimensional (3D) nanocomposite monolith containing MoS2 nanoflakes, graphene oxide (GO) and amorphous SiO2 was fabricated through a simple mixing process and hydrothermal treatment. Compared with GO monolith prepared under identical conditions, the MoS2–GO monolith had larger specific surface area, smaller pore diameter, as well as much higher adsorption capacity for Cu2+ and Rhodamine B. Introducing amorphous SiO2 into the end monolith by using tetraethyl orthosilicate as a reactant in the synthesis reduced shrinkage and produced a greater number of large pores (>1 μm pore diameter) in the monolith. The specific surface area and pore diameter of the MoS2–GO monolith were 321.4 m2 g−1 and 11.71 nm, respectively. The higher adsorption capacity was ascribed to the presence of many S atoms in the MoS2 nanoflakes inside the monolith.