Ti3C2 MXene-bridged Ag/Ag3PO4 hybrids toward enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity

As a novel transition metal carbides and/or carbonitrides, MXene possess two-dimensional characteristic, abundant surface hydrophilic functional groups, and excellent electrical conductivity that bestow a possibility to building MXene-based photocatalysts. Inspired by this, an emerging Ti 3 C 2 MXene cocatalyst bridged Ag/Ag 3 PO 4 to induce a highly visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity, synthesized by electrostatic self-assembly method and the partial reduction of Ag + ions to Ag 0 in MXene solution is reported. The resultant hybrids reveal a well-defined hybrid structures with Ag/Ag 3 PO 4 anchoring on the layer structured Ti 3 C 2 nanosheets. Benefiting from the unique structural features, the Ag/Ag 3 PO 4 /Ti 3 C 2 hybrids present Ti 3 C 2 content-dependent photocatalytic activity toward the methyl orange (MO) degradation and Cr(VI) reduction under visible-light irradiation. Remarkably, the Ag/Ag 3 PO 4 /Ti 3 C 2 hybrid with 3 wt% Ti 3 C 2 content achieves the greatest MO degradation efficiency and Cr(VI) reduction efficiency after irradiation for 1 h, which are increased to 1.72 and 1.46 times higher than that obtained on pristine Ag 3 PO 4 nanoparticles, respectively. Such impressive photocatalytic activity is related to the synergeric effects derived from Ag, Ag 3 PO 4 , and Ti 3 C 2 , which greatly enhance visible light absorption, promote separation and transfer of photo-generated electron-hole pairs. This work highlights that the MXene-based photocatalysts would be desirable candidates for environmental purification of organic pollutants and heavy metal ions.