Ti3C2 MXene supporting platinum nanoparticles as rapid electrons transfer channel and active sites for boosted photocatalytic water splitting over g-C3N4

Abstract

Two-dimension (2D) MXene materials have increasingly attracted attentions in improving the photocatalytic conversion of solar-to-chemical energy over graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4). In this work, Pt nanoparticles modified few-layer Ti3C2 MXene sheet (MXene@Pt) was successfully prepared by chemical reduction, which was used as efficient co-catalysts to enhance the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution over porous g-C3N4 (PCN). The high work function of MXene@Pt and the tight 2D/2D interfacial contact between MXene@Pt and PCN significantly promoted the transfer and separation of photogenerated electron-hole. Besides, the MXene@Pt could enhance the light-harvesting of PCN and provide plentiful active sites for hydrogen evolution reaction. The hydrogen evolution activity of optimum 2D/2D MXene@Pt modified PCN (PCN/MPt-5) composite was dramatically enhanced, even higher than that of equal Pt mass modified PCN. Besides, overall water splitting was realized via a two-electron pathway with H2O2 and H2 generation. This work may provide the fabrication strategy for developing MXene-based co-catalyst in photocatalysis.