Boosting intimate contact and charge transfer between carotenoid dye and Ti3C2Tx MXene for photocatalytic hydrogen production

Abstract

Developing efficient heterojunction photocatalysts with improved light-harvesting capacity and high charge carrier separation rates for photocatalytic hydrogen production remains a challenge in the field of energy conversion. In this study, we synthesized two-dimensional Ti3C2Tx nanosheets through HF etching of Ti3AlC2 and combined them with carotenoid dyes (Car) with different structural characteristics using a solvent spontaneous volatilization method to construct novel Car@Ti3C2Tx Schottky heterojunctions. The intimate interface contacts between the two-dimensional Ti3C2Tx MXene and Car enhanced the light-harvesting capacity of the photocatalysts and promoted charge separation rates. The optimal sample, Car-3@Ti3C2Tx nanocomposite, exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity of 84.4 µmol h−1 g−1 for H2 production under visible light illumination. This work demonstrates the potential of earth-abundant organic Car dyes in constructing high-efficiency and low-cost photocatalysts for hydrogen production.