Molybdenum Disulfide Adsorption for Heavy Metal Ion Removal
Summary
Molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) has emerged as a leading two-dimensional adsorbent for the sequestration of heavy metal ions from aqueous media. Its layered structure offers an exceptionally high specific surface area and abundant sulphur-rich active sites that facilitate strong interactions with cationic pollutants through complexation, electrostatic attraction and ion exchange. The semiconducting 2H and metallic 1T phases of MoS₂ exhibit distinct adsorption behaviours, with defect engineering and phase control further enhancing binding affinity and kinetics. Surface functionalisation—whether by combining MoS₂ with carbonaceous supports, metal oxides or polymer matrices—improves mechanical stability, dispersibility and regenerability, making the material suitable for continuous treatment systems. Under optimised conditions of pH, temperature and contact time, MoS₂-based adsorbents achieve high removal efficiencies for ions such as Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cr⁶⁺ and Ag⁺. Regeneration studies indicate that MoS₂ can be reused over multiple cycles with minimal loss in capacity, underscoring its practical promise. Globally, this technology addresses critical needs for clean water in industrial, mining and agricultural effluents. Ongoing challenges include scaling up synthesis methods, ensuring performance in complex matrices with competing ions and developing cost-effective regeneration protocols. Nevertheless, the combination of strong adsorption performance, chemical stability and potential for sustainable deployment positions MoS₂ adsorption as a key strategy in heavy metal remediation.
Research from Nature Portfolio
No recent Nature Portfolio content available.
Molybdenum Disulfide Adsorption for Heavy Metal Ion Removal publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in molybdenum disulfide adsorption for heavy metal ion removal across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Adsorption isotherm: Mathematical model describing how solutes distribute between liquid phase and adsorbent surface at equilibrium and constant temperature.
Pseudo-second-order kinetics: Rate equation assuming adsorption rate is proportional to the square of the number of unoccupied sites, typically indicating chemisorption.
Langmuir isotherm: Model presuming monolayer adsorption onto a surface with finite, identical binding sites and no interaction between adsorbed species.
Specific surface area: Total surface area of a material per unit mass, a key factor determining adsorption capacity.
Regenerability: Ability of an adsorbent to restore its original adsorption capacity after desorption and reuse.
References
- Aqueous Adsorption of Heavy Metals on Metal Sulfide Nanomaterials: Synthesis and Application. Water (2021).
- Sustainable Design of Molybdenum Disulfide Nanocomposites for Silver Recovery. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering (2022).
- Preparation of Molybdenum Disulfide with Different Nanostructures and Its Adsorption Performance for Copper (Ⅱ) Ion in Water. Nanomaterials (2023).
- Two-dimensional MXene and molybdenum disulphide for the removal of hexavalent chromium from water: A comparative study. Desalination and Water Treatment (2024).
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.