Amine Functionalization and Structural Design for Constructing Tubular MoS₂-Based Composites through an APTES-Assisted Self-Templating Strategy

Abstract

MoS₂-based composites have attracted considerable attention in catalysis owing to their exceptional catalytic properties. However, challenges such as severe nanosheets (NSs) aggregation and inherent difficulties in functionalization have significantly hindered their practical application. Herein, one-dimensional (1D) APTES microtubes decorated with MoS₂ NSs (APTES@MoS₂) were synthesized through a self-template-directed synthesis approach. Comprehensive analysis confirmed that APTES@MoS₂ microtubes exhibited abundant amine groups as well as high active sites for noble metal recovery. Utilizing APTES@MoS₂ as capturing agents, their intrinsic self-reduction properties and chemical stability were exploited to evaluate their efficacy in recovering Ag⁺, Au³⁺, and Pd²⁺ ions. The resultant APTES@MoS₂-Au, Ag, and Pd composites demonstrated exceptional catalytic efficacy in the conversion of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). Moreover, the MoO₃@APTES precursors can be used as versatile templates to obtain a series of tubular structured composites such as APTES, APTES@SiO₂, APTES@PDA, and APTES@NiMoO₄ microtubes, greatly widening the application of MoO₃@APTES precursors. This study introduces a novel approach to fabricate economically viable, ultra-active molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂)-engineered nanohybrids, demonstrating considerable promise for advanced applications in electrochemical energy transduction systems and biomedical diagnostic technologies.