Titanium Carbide (Ti3C2Tx) MXene for Sequestration of Aquatic Pollutants

• Published in: ChemSusChem 2024-11, Vol.17 (21), p.e202400421-n/a
• Main Authors: Madhu, Swedha, MacKenzie, Jayden, Grewal, Kuljeet Singh, Farooque, Aitazaz A., Koleilat, Ghada I., Selopal, Gurpreet Singh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Contaminants; Electrodynamics; Engineering aspects; Environmental remediation; Hierarchies; Mechanical properties; MXenes; Nanomaterials; Photocatalysis; Pollutants; Quantum dots; Titanium carbide; Titanium carbide (Ti3C2Tx) Mxene
• ISSN: 1864-5631; 1864-564X; 1864-564X
• DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202400421

The rapid expansion of industrialization has resulted in the release of multiple ecological contaminants in gaseous, liquid, and solid forms, which pose significant environmental risks to many different ecosystems. The efficient and cost‐effective removal of these environmental pollutants has attracted global attention. This growing concern has prompted the synthesis and optimization of nanomaterials and their application as potential pollutant removal. In this context, MXene is considered an outstanding photocatalytic candidate due to its unique physicochemical and mechanical properties, which include high specific surface area, physiological compatibility, and robust electrodynamics. This review highlights recent advances in shaping titanium carbide (Ti3C2Tx) MXenes, emphasizing the importance of termination groups to boost photoactivity and product selectivity, with a primary focus on engineering aspects. First, a broad overview of Ti3C2Tx MXene is provided, delving into its catalytic properties and the formation of surface termination groups to establish a comprehensive understanding of its fundamental catalytic structure. Subsequently, the effects of engineering the morphology of Ti3C2Tx MXene into different structures, such as two‐dimensional (2D) accordion‐like forms, monolayers, hierarchies, quantum dots, and nanotubes. Finally, a concise overview of the removal of different environmental pollutants is presented, and the forthcoming challenges, along with their prospective outlooks, are delineated. Titanium carbide (Ti3C2Tx) is a potent photocatalyst due to its unique electronic properties and high surface area. This review discusses recent advancements in Ti3C2Tx MXene, focusing on surface termination groups, morphological engineering, and its efficacy in removing environmental pollutants, and also possible directions to addressing future challenges.