Review of MXene-based nanocomposites for photocatalysis

Jong Kwon Im; Erica Jungmin Sohn; Sewoon Kim; Min Jang; Ahjeong Son; Kyung-Duk Zoh; Yeomin Yoon

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129478

Review of MXene-based nanocomposites for photocatalysis

Chemosphere. 2021 May:270:129478. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129478. Epub 2020 Dec 29.

Authors

Jong Kwon Im¹, Erica Jungmin Sohn², Sewoon Kim³, Min Jang⁴, Ahjeong Son⁵, Kyung-Duk Zoh², Yeomin Yoon⁶

Affiliations

¹ National Institute of Environmental Research, Han River Environment Research Center, 42, Dumulmeori-gil 68beon-gil, Yangseo-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do, 12585, Republic of Korea.
² Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-742, Republic of Korea.
³ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, 300 Main Street, SC, 29208, USA.
⁴ Department of Environmental Engineering, Kwangwoon University, 20 Kwangwoon-Ro, Nowon-Gu, Seoul, 01897, Republic of Korea.
⁵ Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea.
⁶ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, 300 Main Street, SC, 29208, USA. Electronic address: yoony@cec.sc.edu.

PMID: 33418219
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129478

Abstract

Since multilayered MXenes (Ti₃C₂T_x, a new family of two-dimensional materials) were initially introduced by researchers at Drexel University in 2011, various MXene-based nanocomposites have received increased attention as photocatalysts owing to their exceptional properties (e.g., rich surface chemistry, adjustable bandgap structures, high electrical conductivity, hydrophilicity, thermal stability, and large specific surface area). Therefore, we present a comprehensive review of recent studies on fabrication methods for MXene-based photocatalysts and photocatalytic performance for contaminant degradation, CO₂ reduction, H₂ evolution, and N₂ fixation with various MXene-based nanocomposites. In addition, this review briefly discusses the stability of MXene-based nanophotocatalysts, current limitations, and future research needs, along with the various corresponding challenges, in an effort to reveal the unique properties of MXene-based nanocomposites.

Keywords: CO(2) reduction; Contaminant removal; Hydrogen production; MXene; N(2) fixation; Photocatalysis.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Electric Conductivity
Humans
Nanocomposites*
Titanium

Substances

Titanium