TiO(2) Nanotubes/Ag/MoS(2) Meshy Photoelectrode with Excellent Photoelectrocatalytic Degradation Activity for Tetracycline Hydrochloride

A novel type of TiO(2) nanotubes (NTs)/Ag/MoS(2) meshy photoelectrode was fabricated with highly oriented TiO(2) nanotube arrays grown from a Ti mesh supporting Ag nanoparticles and three-dimensional MoS(2) nanosheets. In this structure, Ag nanoparticles act as bridges to connect MoS(2) and TiO(2) and pathways for electron transfer, ensuring the abundant production of active electrons, which are the source of •O(2)(−). The TiO(2) NTs/Ag/MoS(2) mesh can be used as both photocatalyst and electrode, exhibiting enhanced photoelectrocatalytic efficiency in degrading tetracycline hydrochloride under visible light irradiation (λ ≥ 420 nm). Compared to unmodified TiO(2) NTs, the improved photoelectrocatalytic activity of the TiO(2) NTs/Ag/MoS(2) arise from the formation of Z-scheme heterojunctions, which facilitate the efficient separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs through the Schottky barriers at the interfaces of TiO(2) NTs–Ag and Ag–MoS(2).