Hierarchical ZnO/MXene composites and their photocatalytic performances

• Published in: Colloids and surfaces. A, Physicochemical and engineering aspects Physicochemical and engineering aspects, 2021-11, Vol.628, p.127230, Article 127230
• Main Authors: Khadidja, Moukaila Fatiya, Fan, Jincheng, Li, Songyang, Li, Shidong, Cui, Kexin, Wu, Jianghong, Zeng, Wengao, Wei, Huige, Jin, Hong-Guang, Naik, Nithesh, Chao, Zisheng, Pan, Duo, Guo, Zhanhu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Co-catalyst; Photocatalytic performances; Transient photoresponses; ZnO microrods/MXene composites
• ISSN: 0927-7757; 1873-4359
• DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2021.127230

MXene with low band gap and excellent metallic conductivity is a novel ultrathin two-dimensional transition metal carbide, and has been widely used as the photocatalytic carrier of semiconductor material. Herein, ZnO/MXene composites were fabricated by a facile two-step chemical reaction method and their structures and photocatalytic performances were investigated systematically. At lower growth temperatures, ZnO particles were dispersed on the Ti3C2 layers whereas ZnO microrods covered the Ti3C2 layers at higher growth temperatures. Especially, ZnO microrods/MXene composites show good photocatalytic performances. Under UV irradiation, about 97.5% Rhodamine B was degraded by the composite within 18 min and retained more than 90% of the photocatalytic efficiency after 7 cycles. Therefore, ZnO microrods/MXene composites can be regarded as a potential candidate for applications in waste water treatment and environmental protection. ZnO microrods/MXene composites were fabricated by a facile hydrothermal method and the composites show good photocatalytic performances. Under UV irradiation, about 97.5% Rhodamine B was degraded by the composite within 18 min. The difference in photocatalytic activity of ZnO/MXene composites can be contributed to their different morphologies. Therefore, ZnO microrods/MXene composites can be regarded as a potential candidate for application in waste water treatment and environmental protection. [Display omitted] •ZnO microrods/MXene composites were fabricated by a facile hydrothermal method.•ZnO microrods/MXene composites show the super photocatalytic performances.•Ti3C2 enhanced visible absorption of ZnO microrods/MXene composites due to its black color nature.•ZnO microrods/MXene composites displayed higher photocurrent intensity and exhibited higher separation efficiency of photogenerated charges.