Boosting the Photocatalytic Ability of Cu₂O Nanowires for CO₂ Conversion by MXene Quantum Dots

Abstract

Abstract MXene quantum dots (QDs) are emerging 0D nanomaterials. Here, a new heterostructure is developed based on a 1D photoactive semiconductor and a 0D MXene QD for improved photocatalytic reduction of CO 2 into methanol. Specifically, Ti 3 C 2 QDs are incorporated onto Cu 2 O nanowires (NWs) through a simple self‐assembly strategy. It is demonstrated that Ti 3 C 2 QDs not only significantly improve the stability of Cu 2 O NWs but also greatly improve their photocatatlytic performance by enhancing charge transfer, charge transport, carrier density, light adsorption, as well as by decreasing band bending edge and charge recombination. The energy level diagram derived from both experimental measurements and theoretical calculations provide further insights of such hierarchical photocatalysis system.