Investigation of MXene’s role in photocatalytic applications

Nowadays, the use of photocatalysts is recognized as an efficient method for various photocatalytic applications such as photocatalytic water splitting, CO2 reduction and water treatment. One of the major drawbacks of different photocatalysts is the high recombination rate of the generated electron-hole pairs. To overcome this limitation, the use of two-dimensional conductive materials, such as MXene’s, has been proposed. MXenes are two-dimensional carbides, nitrides, or carbonitrides of transition metals. Their characteristics, including a large specific surface area, tunable surface groups, and significant conductivity, make them particularly appealing for various applications, especially in photocatalytic processes. Among the different MXene structures, Ti3C2 has been studied more extensively due to its unique electronic properties and the straightforward processes available for its modification. Ti3C2 facilitates the separation of electron-hole pairs produced by semiconductors and reduces their recombination in photocatalytic applications, leading to improved overall performance. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the methods employed for the synthesis and modification of Ti3C2 and examines the performance of this material in enhancing the efficiency of photocatalytic systems.