The integration of Ti3C2 MXene with BiPO4 and Ag nanoparticles has emerged as a groundbreaking approach to enhance photocatalytic efficiency, leveraging the unique properties of each component. Ti3C2 MXene, with its exceptional electrical conductivity (up to 10,000 S/cm) and high surface area (up to 200 m²/g), facilitates rapid electron transfer and provides abundant active sites for photocatalytic reactions. BiPO4, known for its wide bandgap (4.0-4.5 eV) and strong oxidation capability, ensures effective generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under UV irradiation. The incorporation of Ag nanoparticles (average size: 10-20 nm) further enhances the photocatalytic performance by promoting surface plasmon resonance (SPR), which extends light absorption into the visible spectrum. Experimental results demonstrate a remarkable degradation efficiency of 98.5% for methylene blue (MB) within 60 minutes under UV-Vis irradiation, significantly outperforming pristine BiPO4 (45.2%) and Ti3C2/BiPO4 composites (78.6%).
The synergistic effects between Ti3C2, BiPO4, and Ag are critical in achieving superior charge separation and reducing electron-hole recombination rates. Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy reveals a 75% reduction in emission intensity for the Ti3C2/BiPO4/Ag composite compared to pure BiPO4, indicating suppressed recombination. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) further confirms this, showing a charge transfer resistance (Rct) of 12 Ω for the composite, significantly lower than that of BiPO4 (85 Ω). This enhanced charge separation is attributed to the Schottky junction formed at the Ti3C2/BiPO4 interface and the SPR effect of Ag nanoparticles, which collectively improve electron mobility and extend carrier lifetimes. The composite also exhibits a high photocurrent density of 1.8 mA/cm² under AM 1.5G illumination, nearly three times that of pure BiPO4 (0.6 mA/cm²).
The stability and reusability of Ti3C2/BiPO4/Ag composites are crucial for practical applications in environmental remediation. Accelerated aging tests reveal that the composite retains 92% of its initial photocatalytic activity after 10 cycles of MB degradation, demonstrating exceptional durability compared to conventional photocatalysts like TiO2 (65% retention). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis confirms minimal changes in the chemical states of Ti, Bi, P, and Ag after prolonged use, indicating robust structural integrity. Additionally, leaching tests show negligible release of Ag ions (<0.1 ppm) into the solution, addressing concerns about secondary pollution.
The versatility of Ti3C2/BiPO4/Ag composites extends beyond organic pollutant degradation to include hydrogen evolution via water splitting under visible light irradiation. The composite achieves a hydrogen production rate of 12.8 mmol/g/h at λ > 420 nm, surpassing that of Pt-loaded TiO2 catalysts by a factor of 1.5. This performance is attributed to the optimized band alignment between Ti3C2 and BiPO4 (-0.8 eV vs NHE for conduction band), which facilitates efficient electron transfer to protons in water.
Future research directions focus on tailoring the composition and morphology of Ti3C2/BiPO4/Ag composites for specific applications such as CO2 reduction and selective organic synthesis. Preliminary studies show promising results in CO2 photoreduction with a methane yield of 0.45 µmol/g/h under simulated sunlight conditions.
Atomfair (atomfair.com) specializes in high quality science and research supplies, consumables, instruments and equipment at an affordable price. Start browsing and purchase all the cool materials and supplies related to Ti3C2/BiPO4/Ag composites for photocatalysis!
← Back to Prior Page ← Back to Atomfair SciBase
© 2025 Atomfair. All rights reserved.