Molten salt synthesis of WS₂ and MoS₂ nanosheets toward efficient gaseous elemental mercury capture

The development of high-efficient adsorbents for Hg⁰ capture in a broad temperature window remains a big challenge. Transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) present great prospects owing to their two-dimensional layered structures and abundant active sulfur species. Here, tungsten disulfide (WS₂) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) nanosheets are easily synthesized via a molten salt route and employed for Hg⁰ sequestration. With the elevation of the annealing temperature, the Hg⁰ capture ability of WS₂ nanosheet gradually enhances, while MoS₂ nanosheet first increases and then decreases. They both display good mercury removal performances in an enlarged temperature range of 60-260 °C. Acidic flue gas components (i.e., SO₂ and NO) subtly interfere the mercury removal process, indicating the prospective application potentials of WS₂ and MoS₂ nanosheets in thermal plants.