PLD-fabricated MoS2/PET membranes: structural features and dual-mode functional response

Two-dimensional graphene-like materials such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) possess excellent physicochemical properties for photocatalysis and environmental sensing. This study reports on the fabrication of heterostructures combining MoS2 with ion-track-etched polyethylene terephthalate (PET) supports. The PET membranes were irradiated with 170 MeV Xe+ ions at a fluence of 1 × 106 cm−2 and subsequently etched in 9 M NaOH, yielding pore diameters of 0.38 ± 0.09 µm and 0.75 ± 0.11 µm. MoS2 films were deposited by pulsed laser deposition and characterized by scanning electron microscopy and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry and elastic recoil detection analysis for microstructure and surface composition. Photocatalytic activity was evaluated by bisphenol A (BPA) degradation under UV-A light. The highest degradation rate constant (0.0083 min−1) and BPA removal efficiency (64.4% after 240 min) were achieved by the etched, uncoated PET membrane, indicating a significant role in surface functionalization. MoS2 layers notably enhanced the adsorption capacity under dark conditions, with the highest pseudo-first-order adsorption rate constant of 0.0528 min−1 (S4 sample). MoS2-coated membranes displayed a∼40% higher sensitivity than pristine PET, with a linear resistivity drop across 20%–50% RH.