Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution by TiO<sub>2</sub>: A Synergistic Approach with Defect-Rich SnS<sub>2</sub> and Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub> MXene Cocatalysts
Enhanced photo-induced electron utilization leads to efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production. The inefficient separation of photo-induced electron–hole pairs has hindered this process. This study introduces a synergistic approach using defect-rich SnS<sub>2</sub> and Ti<sub>3&...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Hydrogen |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4141/5/4/50 |
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| Summary: | Enhanced photo-induced electron utilization leads to efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production. The inefficient separation of photo-induced electron–hole pairs has hindered this process. This study introduces a synergistic approach using defect-rich SnS<sub>2</sub> and Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub> MXene as cocatalysts in a two-step hydrothermal process to address this challenge. By integrating these materials with TiO<sub>2</sub> nanosheets, we create a novel composite, SnS<sub>2</sub>/Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>/TiO<sub>2</sub> (STT), that significantly boosts photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. The defect-rich SnS<sub>2</sub> provides abundant active sites for hydrogen generation, while Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub> MXene facilitates photo-induced charge separation. The synergistic combination of charge carrier diffusion enhances chromophore absorption, thereby increasing the overall photocatalytic hydrogen-production rate, achieving several grams of hydrogen per hour per gram of double cocatalysts with molybdenum vacancies. Characterization techniques confirm the phase composition of the composite (STT). Compared to pristine TiO<sub>2</sub> and other composites, the STT composite, optimized with a 150 °C hydrothermal treatment, shows a photocatalytic H<sub>2</sub>-production rate nearly 192 times higher than that of pure TiO<sub>2</sub> and 6 times higher than that of other composites. The presence of molybdenum vacancies in SnS<sub>2</sub> further enhances its specific activity for hydrogen evolution by suppressing carrier recombination and providing additional active sites. Moreover, Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub> MXene and SnS<sub>2</sub> act as dual cocatalysts, improving electronic conductivity and electron-transfer efficiency. Our findings demonstrate the potential of combining defect-rich SnS<sub>2</sub> and Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub> MXene to develop highly efficient and sustainable photocatalysts for hydrogen production. TiO<sub>2</sub> has been in situ grown on highly conductive Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub> MXene, and SnS<sub>2</sub>, rich in molybdenum vacancies, is uniformly distributed on the TiO<sub>2</sub>/Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub> composite through the two-step hydrothermal method. The presence of molybdenum vacancies in SnS<sub>2</sub> further enhances its specific activity for hydrogen evolution by suppressing carrier recombination and providing additional active sites. Moreover, Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub> MXene and SnS<sub>2</sub> act as dual cocatalysts, improving electronic conductivity and electron-transfer efficiency. Our findings demonstrate the potential of combining defect-rich SnS<sub>2</sub> and Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub> MXene to develop highly efficient and sustainable photocatalysts for hydrogen production. |
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| ISSN: | 2673-4141 |