Laminated Hybrid Junction of Sulfur‐Doped TiO₂ and a Carbon Substrate Derived from Ti₃C₂ MXenes: Toward Highly Visible Light‐Driven Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Abstract

TiO2 is an ideal photocatalyst candidate except for its large bandgap and fast charge recombination. A novel laminated junction composed of defect‐controlled and sulfur‐doped TiO2 with carbon substrate (LDC‐S‐TiO2/C) is synthesized using the 2D transition metal carbides (MXenes) as a template to enhance light absorption and improve charge separation. The prepared LDC‐S‐TiO2/C catalyst delivers a high photocatalytic H2 evolution rate of 333 µmol g−1 h−1 with a high apparent quantum yield of 7.36% at 400 nm and it is also active even at 600 nm, resulting into a 48 time activity compared with L‐TiO2/C under visible light irradiation. Further theoretical modeling calculation indicates that such novel approach also reduces activation energy of hydrogen production apart from broadening the absorption wavelength, facilitating charge separation, and creating a large surface area substrate. This synergic effect can also be applied to other photocatalysts' modification. The study provides a novel approach for synthesis defective metal oxides based hybrids and broaden the applications of MXene family.

Sandwich‐Like Ultrathin TiS2 Nanosheets Confined within N, S Codoped Porous Carbon as an Effective Polysulfide Promoter in Lithium‐Sulfur Batteries

“…[28] The weaker and broader E g and A 1g peaks of TiS 2 @NSC than those of TiS 2 -C is attributed to the carbon encapsulation. [28] The weaker and broader E g and A 1g peaks of TiS 2 @NSC than those of TiS 2 -C is attributed to the carbon encapsulation.…”

Positioning MXenes in the Photocatalysis Landscape: Competitiveness, Challenges, and Future Perspectives

“…The high-portion exposed transition metal atoms on the surface of MXenes open up the possibility to utilize MXenes as semiconductor precursors, [36,[87][88][89][90][91] during which MXenes are oxidized to the corresponding metal oxide. More recently, increasing attention has been paid to this area; [56] the surface oxidation of MXenes has been intentionally harnessed for the fabrication of MXenes-semiconductor composites toward various photocatalytic applications.…”

Bandgap engineering via boron and sulphur doped carbon modified anatase TiO2: a visible light stimulated photocatalyst for photo-fixation of N2 and TCH degradation

“…36 For B-doped CT, the peaks positioned at 530.35 eV correspond to the Ti-O and Ti-O-B bonds and the peak centred at 532.48 eV arises due to the B-O-B and surface adsorbed water, while the peak centred at 531.1 eV indicates the displacement of oxygen in the TiO 2 lattice. 37,38 Similarly, Fig. 2c, f and j displays the C 1s spectra of CT and doped CT.…”