Ti3C2Tx MXene-Based Hybrid Photocatalysts in Organic Dye Degradation: A Review

Abstract

This review provides an overview of the fabrication methods for Ti₃C₂T_x MXene-based hybrid photocatalysts and evaluates their role in degrading organic dye pollutants. Ti₃C₂T_x MXene has emerged as a promising material for hybrid photocatalysts due to its high metallic conductivity, excellent hydrophilicity, strong molecular adsorption, and efficient charge transfer. These properties facilitate faster charge separation and minimize electron-hole recombination, leading to exceptional photodegradation performance, long-term stability, and significant attention in dye degradation applications. Ti₃C₂T_x MXene-based hybrid photocatalysts significantly improve dye degradation efficiency, as evidenced by higher percentage degradation and reduced degradation time compared to conventional semiconducting materials. This review also highlights computational techniques employed to assess and enhance the performance of Ti₃C₂T_x MXene-based hybrid photocatalysts for dye degradation. It identifies the challenges associated with Ti₃C₂T_x MXene-based hybrid photocatalyst research and proposes potential solutions, outlining future research directions to address these obstacles effectively.

Keywords: Ti3C2Tx MXene; charge separation; dye degradation; photocatalysis.

Figure 7

(a) Schematic of the cefixime degradation mechanism under light. (b) Kinetics of cefixime degradation. (c) Histogram of degradation rate (%). Reproduced with permission from [124], (d) SEM image of the tetracalcium phosphate (TTCP) hydrogel. (e) Total organic carbon (TOC) of source water under different phenol concentrations (orange column), distilled water without photocatalyst (green column), and distilled water with TTCP hydrogel (violet column). (f) TOC of distilled water with different catalysts. Reproduced with permission from [134]. (g) Schematic illustration of the synthesis process of the Ti₃C₂T_x MXene/CeO₂ photocatalysts (inset SEM image). Comparative representation of the production of (h) C₂H₅OH and (i) CH₄ under solar light illumination with different catalysts. Reproduced with permission from [135].

Figure 1

Schematic illustration of the TiO₂/Ti₃C₂ hybrid synthesis process through partial oxidation of Ti₃C₂. Reproduced with permission from [57].

Figure 2

Schematic illustration of the ZnO/Ti₃C₂T_x hybrid photocatalyst synthesis process. Reproduced with permission from [60].

Figure 3

Schematic illustration of the Ti₃C₂T_x MXene/g-C₃N₄ photocatalyst synthesis process using the wet impregnation method. Reproduced with permission from [6].

Figure 4

Schematic illustration of the 2D/2D WO₃/Ti₃C₂T_x heterojunction formation process. Reproduced with permission from [62].

Figure 5

Flow chart of the synthesis process for BiVO₄/Ti₃C₂T_x nanocomposite [70].

Figure 6

Schematic of the synthesis and fabrication of MoS₂/Ti₃C₂T_x MXene/N-doped carbon composite microspheres. Reproduced with permission from [71].

Figure 8

Proposed mechanisms of photocatalytic degradation: (a) anionic dye (MO), reproduced with permission from [114], and (b) cationic dye (MB) over TiO₂/Ti₃C₂T_x composite, reproduced with permission from [72].