TiO2/MXene heterojunction nanocomposite for photocatalytic degradation of phenol-contaminated water

This study explores the synthesis and optimization of TiO 2 /MXene nanocomposites with heterojunction-like characteristics for efficient photocatalytic degradation of phenol-contaminated water. TiO 2 nanoparticles were synthesized via a sol-gel method using ionic liquids as green solvents, while MXene nanosheets were obtained by etching Al layers from Ti 3 AlC 2 with a LiF/HCl solution. The TiO 2 /MXene composites were produced through a one-step physical mixing process, promoting strong interfacial contact and suggesting the formation of a heterojunction. The integration of TiO 2 with Ti 3 C 2 enhanced photocatalytic efficiency by enlarging surface area and reducing charge recombination. Characterization techniques such as XRD, FT-IR, FE-SEM, EDS, UV-Vis DRS, and BET analyses confirmed the structural and optical properties of the materials. Photocatalytic performance tests under UV and solar light revealed that the TiO 2 /MXene composite achieved 99.5% degradation of phenol red within 240 min under UV light and 70% within 60 min under solar light, confirming its strong solar-driven activity. The formation of quantum dots within the MXene structure further improved the performance. Operational factors like catalyst dosage, initial phenol concentration, and reaction time were optimized. The photocatalyst maintained stability over ten cycles. Overall, the study demonstrates that coupling MXene with TiO 2 offers a promising, energy-efficient route for sustainable photocatalytic water purification under solar irradiation.