RuO2-loaded TiO2–MXene as a high performance photocatalyst for nitrogen fixation

Abstract

In this work, we report RuO2-loaded TiO2–MXene hybrid nanostructure as a promising photocatalyst possessing remarkable activity for photocatalytic nitrogen fixation in water at room temperature. The MXene was synthesized by HF etching of the precursor Ti3AlC2 and used as the substrate for the growth of RuO2 nanoparticles and TiO2 through a hydrothermal reaction. The benign activity is mainly attributed to the synergetic effect among MXene, TiO2, and RuO2 in photocatalytic ammonia synthesis by combining light harvesting and nitrogen activation.