MXene-Based Photocatalysts in Degradation of Organic and Pharmaceutical Pollutants

Abstract

These days, explorations have focused on designing two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials with useful (photo)catalytic and environmental applications. Among them, MXene-based composites have garnered great attention owing to their unique optical, mechanical, thermal, chemical, and electronic properties. Various MXene-based photocatalysts have been inventively constructed for a variety of photocatalytic applications ranging from pollutant degradation to hydrogen evolution. They can be applied as co-catalysts in combination with assorted common photocatalysts such as metal sulfide, metal oxides, metal–organic frameworks, graphene, and graphitic carbon nitride to enhance the function of photocatalytic removal of organic/pharmaceutical pollutants, nitrogen fixation, photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, and carbon dioxide conversion, among others. High electrical conductivity, robust photothermal effects, large surface area, hydrophilicity, and abundant surface functional groups of MXenes render them as attractive candidates for photocatalytic removal of pollutants as well as improvement of photocatalytic performance of semiconductor catalysts. Herein, the most recent developments in photocatalytic degradation of organic and pharmaceutical pollutants using MXene-based composites are deliberated, with a focus on important challenges and future perspectives; techniques for fabrication of these photocatalysts are also covered.

Recent Advances in MXenes Based Composites as Photocatalysts: Synthesis, Properties and Photocatalytic Removal of Organic Contaminants from Wastewater

“…These heterostructured photocatalysts, including MXene-based ones, are designed to improve the separation efficiency of photo-generated charge carriers, thereby enhancing overall photocatalytic performance. [88] Due to MXene's unique 2D stacked structure, MXene-based photocatalysts have demonstrated significant potential in environmental remediation applications. They offer enhanced performance in degrading pollutants and promoting various photocatalytic processes for environmental purification.…”

A strongly coupled 3D SnS2@Ti3C2Tx heterojunction with vacancies for high-efficiency sodium storage

“…13 Among various dimensional materials, two-dimensional nanomaterials demonstrate superior interfacial chemical activity, shorter ion diffusion paths, and stronger in-plane carriers, making them highly promising for SIB applications. 14 MXenes, a novel class of two-dimensional transition metal carbides or nitrides, with a general formula of M n+1 X n T x (where M represents a transition metal element, X denotes carbon or nitrogen, and T x represents surface functional groups like -OH, QO, and -F), have garnered significant research attention in the energy storage field, owing to their unique physicochemical properties such as abundant surface groups, low ionic diffusion resistance, and chemical compatibility. [15][16][17][18] However, MXenes tend to self-aggregate, resulting in low theoretical capacity and unsatisfactory performance, particularly when employed as anodes in SIBs.…”

“…13 Among various dimensional materials, two-dimensional nanomaterials demonstrate superior interfacial chemical activity, shorter ion diffusion paths, and stronger in-plane carriers, making them highly promising for SIB applications. 14…”

The Quest for Green Solvents for the Sustainable Production of Nanosheets of Two-Dimensional (2D) Materials, a Key Issue in the Roadmap for the Ecology Transition in the Flatland

“…2D materials represent a promising platform for technology [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ] because of their unique physicochemical properties associated with the atomic thickness [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ]. This implies enormous versatility in various fields, ranging from electrochemical energy storage devices, sensing, photonics, optoelectronics, and energy storage/production [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. However, the industrial exploitation of 2D materials implies the need to achieve the sustainable large-scale production of 2D materials with high crystalline quality and unaltered electronic properties [ 26 , 27 ].…”