Hydrodynamic synthesis of Fe2O3@MoS2 0D/2D-nanocomposite material and its application as a catalyst in the glycolysis of polyethylene terephthalate

Abstract

We report a fast and simple synthesis of Fe2O3@MoS2 0D/2D-nanocomposite material using a Taylor-Couette flow reactor. A Taylor-Couette flow with high shear stress and mixing characteristics was used for fluid dynamic exfoliation of MoS2 and deposition of uniform Fe2O3 nanoparticles, resulting in a Fe2O3@MoS2 in the form of 0D/2D-nanocomposite material. Using Taylor-Couette flow reactor, we could synthesize Fe2O3@MoS2 0D/2D-nanocomposite material at a rate higher than 1000 mg h(-1) which is much higher than previously reported production rate of 0.2-116.7 mg h(-1). The synthesis of Fe2O3@MoS2 nanocomposite was achieved in an aqueous solution without thermal or organic solvent treatment. Exfoliated MoS2 nanosheets show an average thickness of 2.6 +/- 2.3 nm (<6 layers) and a lateral size of 490 +/- 494 nm. Fe2O3 nanoparticles have an average size of 7.4 +/- 3.0 nm. Fe2O3 nanoparticles on chemically and thermally stable MoS2 nanosheets show catalytic activity in the glycolysis of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). High conversion of PET (97%) and a high yield (90%) for bis(hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) were achieved in a reaction time of 3 h at the reaction temperature of 225 degrees C.