Ti₃C₂ 2D MXene: Recent Progress and Perspectives in Photocatalysis

Abstract

In 2011, with the successful isolation of Ti₃C₂, a door of 2D layered MXene has been opened and received growing attention from researchers. MXene refers to a family of two-dimensional (2D) materials made up of atomic layers of the transition metal, carbide, nitrides, or carbonitrides. Given the large surface area, adjustable surface terminal groups, and excellent conductivity of MXene, it has shown exciting potential in photocatalysis, energy conversion, and many other fields. Among many 2D MXene, Ti₃C₂ was the most studied for its availability, low cost, facile modification procedure, and outstanding electronic properties. In previous investigations, Ti₃C₂ has shown huge potential in the photocatalysis area. Ti₃C₂ in a photocatalysis system can enhance the separation of photoinduced electrons and holes, reduce charge recombination, and thus improve the photocatalysis performance in many systems. To adjust the performance of Ti₃C₂ in different applications, the properties of Ti₃C₂ including morphology, structures, and stability are tunable by different post-processing method in the hybridized materials. In this review, an all-around understanding of the fabrication and modification methods of Ti₃C₂ and their connection to photocatalytic applications of Ti₃C₂ MXene based materials are presented. Moreover, a summary and our perspectives of Ti₃C₂ are given for further investigation.