Template synthesis of dual-functional porous MoS 2 nanoparticles with photothermal conversion and catalytic properties.

Advanced catalysis triggered by photothermal conversion effects has aroused increasing interest due to its huge potential in environmental purification. In this work, we developed a novel approach to the fast degradation of 4-nitrophenol (4-Nip) using porous MoS 2 nanoparticles as catalysts, which integrate the intrinsic catalytic property of MoS 2 with its photothermal conversion capability. Using assembled polystyrene- b -poly(2-vinylpyridine) block copolymers as soft templates, various MoS 2 particles were prepared, which exhibited tailored morphologies ( e.g. , pomegranate-like, hollow, and open porous structures). The photothermal conversion performance of these featured particles was compared under near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation. Intriguingly, when these porous MoS 2 particles were further employed as catalysts for the reduction of 4-Nip, the reaction rate constant was increased by a factor of 1.5 under NIR illumination. We attribute this catalytic enhancement to the open porous architecture and light-to-heat conversion performance of the MoS 2 particles. This contribution offers new opportunities for efficient photothermal-assisted catalysis.