Highly photocatalytic active thiomolybdate [Mo3S13]2− clusters/BiOBr nanocomposite with enhanced sulfur tolerance

•The Mo3S132−/BiOBr composites were prepared by a hydro-thermal method.•The [Mo3S13]2− clusters enhance catalytic activity of BiOBr as a co-catalysts.•[Mo3S13]2− clusters exhibited enhanced sulfur tolerance.•Mo3S132−/BiOBr composites are promising candidate for photocatalytic application.

The sulfur tolerant Mo3S132−/BiOBr nanocomposite photocatalysts were facilely fabricated by a hydrothermal method. The characterizations including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), UV–vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS) and photoluminescence (PL) investigate the structures, elemental composition, morphologies and photocatalytic activities of Mo3S132−/BiOBr nanocomposite. The 5.0 wt% Mo3S132−/BiOBr composite sample showed highest visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity for decolorization of organic dyes including Rhodamine B (RhB) and sulfure containing methylene blue (MB). The decolorization of RhB was dominated by the direct hole and the generated O2− radicals oxidation process. Our 5.0 wt% Mo3S132−/BiOBr nanocomposite exhibited comparable photocatalytic activity as the state of art 1 wt% BiOBr/Pt composite for photocatalytic decolorization of RhB. The 5.0 wt% Mo3S132−/BiOBr composite possessed better sulfur resistance than 1.0 wt% Pt/BiOBr composite.

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