Aravindan Santhan | Searcharxiv

arXiv2026

Heterointerface-Engineered Electrochemically Exfoliated MoS2/WS2 2D-Layered Nanocomposite for Efficient Visible-Light Photocatalytic Degradation of Sorafenib

The increasing prevalence of pharmaceutical contaminants within the aquatic environment has generated considerable environmental concerns, especially regarding persistent anticancer medications like the kinase inhibitor sorafenib (SRF), which are inadequately eliminated by standard degradation methods. A heterointerface-engineered MoS2/WS2, 2D/2D layered nanocomposite was fabricated using an electrochemical exfoliation method to facilitate effective visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of SRF. The electrochemical exfoliation method yielded ultrathin 9.62-layer thickness MoS2/WS2 nanosheets with numerous exposed edge sites and an increased specific surface area, facilitating the development of well-interconnected van der Waals heterointerfaces. Comprehensive structural and morphological examinations utilizing field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman spectroscopy, and UV-visible spectroscopy validated the effective synthesis of few-layer nanosheets and their heterostructure interfaces. In contrast to the pure MoS2 and WS2 nanosheets, the MoS2/WS2 heterostructure composite demonstrated significantly enhanced photocatalytic efficacy, attaining roughly 92 % degradation of SRF within 2h under visible-light exposure. The enhanced catalytic efficiency is mainly due to the establishment of a Type-II band alignment at the MoS2/WS2 interface, facilitating effective charge separation and directional charge transfer while inhibiting electron-hole recombination. The robust interfacial interaction among the transition metal dichalcogenide layers accelerates visible-light absorption and the production of reactive oxygen species. This study illustrates that electrochemically exfoliated MoS2/WS2 heterostructure composites serve as a viable catalytic platform for the successful removal of persistent pharmaceutical pollutants.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

A copper sulfide-hydroxypropyl $β$-Cyclodextrin-reduced graphene oxide composite for highly sensitive electrochemical detection of 5-hydroxytryptamine in biological samples

The precise identification of neurotransmitters is essential for comprehending cerebral function, detecting neurological conditions, and formulating successful therapeutic approaches. The present work investigates the electrochemical detection of serotonin with the excellent hybrid electrocatalyst $Cu_2S/Hβcd-rGO$. $Cu_2S$, with its significant features as improved catalytic activity and enhanced charge transfer when combined with $Hβcd-rGO$, will enhance the performance. The integration of $Cu_2S$ with $Hβcd-rGO$, regulated by the van der Waals force and the electrostatic interaction, makes it a stable catalyst without disrupting the composite structure. Also, the aggregation of the $Cu_2S/Hβcd$ with the layered sheets of rGO can be highly reduced and resulting in the improvement of the conductivity. Thus, the above features resulted in the improved oxidation response current when fabricated over the glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The SR showed sensitive response at a broad linear range of 0.019 to 0.299 $μ$M and 4.28 to 403.14 $μ$M, resulting in a lower limit of detection (LOD) of 1.2 nM or 0.0012 $μ$M and a sensitivity of about 15.9 $μ$A $μM^{-1}$ $cm^{-2}$. The sensor demonstrated excellent selectivity against common interferents, including aminophenol, dopamine, epinephrine, hydroquinone, melatonin, and chlorine. The real sample studies in the biological samples show good recovery values, showing the effectiveness of the as-fabricated sensor. Thus, the cost-efficient and straightforward integration of $Cu_2S/Hβcd-rGO$ will be an outstanding electrocatalyst for detecting SR.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗