Abstract
We report for the synthesis, structural characterization, and photocatalytic activity of NiOₓ-MoO₃-MoS₂ nanocomposites (NCs) with different ratios of MoO₃-MoS₂ (labeled as NMOS, N = NiOₓ, MO = MoO₃, S = MoS₂). NiOₓ nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized via a sol–gel method and subsequently annealed with different Mo-precursor ratios to form NMOS NCs. Structural analyses (XRD, TEM, XPS, Raman) confirmed a non-stoichiometric NiOₓ core, encapsulated by MoO₃-MoS₂ domains. Optical studies showed band gap tuning from 3.53 eV (NiOₓ) to 2.92 eV (NMOS-III), enhancing visible-light absorption. Photocatalytic activity, evaluated through methylene blue (MB) degradation, revealed NMOS-I exhibited the highest efficiency due to balanced phase composition and efficient radical generation, with rapid adsorption and degradation in the first 5 min, followed by slower equilibrium adsorption. In contrast, excessive Mo-precursor loading in NMOS-III formed a secondary phase (e.g., NiS), leading to recombination losses and reduced efficiency. This work represents the first demonstration of tunable ternary NMOS NCs and elucidates how precise control of phase ratios and heterointerfaces dramatically enhances photocatalytic activity. These findings highlight the role of phase distribution and interfacial chemistry, offering new possibilities for tailoring NMOS NCs for photocatalytic and environmental applications.
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Acknowledgements
We sincerely thank Pini Shekhter from the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel, for his invaluable assistance with the XPS measurements. We also express our sincere gratitude to Iddo Pinkas from the Department of Chemical Research Support at the Weizmann Institute of Science for his invaluable assistance with the Raman measurements. His expertise was instrumental in the analysis presented in this work. We also extend our deep appreciation to all colleagues whose contributions were essential to the success of this research. Their time, expertise, and collaborative efforts were greatly valued.
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This research was funded by the Israel Ministry of Energy and the Israel Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology.
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H.S. conceptualized the experiment(s), developed methodology, conducted investigation, curated data, performed analysis, wrote the manuscript, and contributed to writing – review & editing. S.T. assisted with synthesizing and measuring absorbance, photoluminescence, and dye degradation. O.B. performed TEM experiments. I.P. conducted Raman spectroscopy. R.C. conducted EPR experiments. L.Y. supervised, handled project administration, and contributed to writing, review & editing. All authors reviewed the manuscript.
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Shalom, H., Tahover, S., Brontvein, O. et al. Synthesis and structural insights of tunable NiOX–MoO3–MoS2 nanocomposites with enhanced photocatalytic performance. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-36921-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-36921-4
