WS₂-Based Nanomaterials for Visible-Light Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants

The effective utilization of solar energy for environmental pollution control is an important topic of sustainable development. However, so far, most of photocatalytic materials only work under ultraviolet light irradiation, which inhibits their practical application. In contrast, nanostructured tungsten disulfide (WS₂) demonstrates a full-solar-light-spectrum response from ultraviolet to visible and even near-infrared regions, showing a great promise for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants. In this chapter, the principles of photocatalysis are revealed first, followed by an ample discussion on the structure, optical properties, and synthesis routes of WS₂-based nanomaterials. Then, the design strategies of WS₂-based nanomaterials toward highly efficient photocatalytic degradation are elucidated, after which the application of WS₂-based photocatalysts for the degradation of dyes, antibiotics, and phenols is briefly discussed. Furthermore, the challenges and potential future research directions are outlined.