Exfoliation of Ti3AlC2 and Photocatalytical Application of MXene/ZnO composites

Abstract

The intriguing features of MXene, a novel family of two-dimensional materials, include strong surface area, negative zeta potential, metallic conductivity, and electric conductivity.The majority of Mxene are currently only successfully prepared by exfoliating MAX with high concentration hydrofluoric acids. In this study, the 2D Ti₃C₂ with large interplanar spacing was successfully achieved by alkali mixture of NaF and HCl, in single process. The morphology and structure of prepared sample characterized by XRD and SEM. This work presents a safely effective route to synthesize the 2D Ti₃C₂. Fabrication of ZnO/MXene composites by a facile chemical method. Under UV irradiation, Rhodamine B was degraded by composites within 15 min and retained photo-catalytical efficiency after 5 cycles.