Chapter 11 - Recent advances in 2D MXene-based heterostructured photocatalytic materials

Abstract

Solar light driven photocatalytic technology has attracted much attention because it is a vital step in using solar energy to eliminate undesired chemical substances for environmental conservation and to split water for green hydrogen production. At present the developed quantum efficiency and insufficient stability of the catalytic materials are limiting the process to see the light of commercial success. At this juncture researchers felt that development of new two-dimensional (2D) materials may accelerate the advancement in the fields of solar light utilization. The field of 2D materials has been dominated by graphene due to its many exotic properties. Since 2012, interesting properties of exfoliated MXene and metal chalcogenides are fueling the rapid growth of interest in 2D materials beyond graphene. MXenes are an important family of 2D transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides. Recently researchers have been looking into the different modifications of MXene and its use as photocatalyst. For hydrogen evolution reaction MXenes are found to be superior to other 2D catalysts such as MoS2 and g-C3N4. This prospective review will systematically deal with the structural variety, chemical, and physical properties of MXene family in relation to photocatalytic activity. Recent development on material modification and mechanism of enhanced activity toward H2 generation through both photocatalytic and photoelectrocatalytic water splitting involving MXene materials will be analyzed. In addition carbon dioxide reduction to fuel and environmental remediation will be deliberated with respect to both theoretical and experimental results. In conclusion new challenges and possible future directions with MXene-based materials for future technology will be emphasized.