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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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Hydrogen |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4141/5/4/50 |
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| author | Saminathan Varadarajan Andiappan Kavitha Periasamy Selvaraju Sankaran Esakki Muthu Krishnamoorthy Gurushankar Sengottaiyan Shanmugan Karthik Kannan |
| author_facet | Saminathan Varadarajan Andiappan Kavitha Periasamy Selvaraju Sankaran Esakki Muthu Krishnamoorthy Gurushankar Sengottaiyan Shanmugan Karthik Kannan |
| author_sort | Saminathan Varadarajan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3e594a4226f8428dae4c4f2a0a1c7cbe |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-4141 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Hydrogen |
| spelling | doaj-art-3e594a4226f8428dae4c4f2a0a1c7cbe2024-12-27T14:29:44ZengMDPI AGHydrogen2673-41412024-12-015494095710.3390/hydrogen5040050Enhanced 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 CocatalystsSaminathan Varadarajan0Andiappan Kavitha1Periasamy Selvaraju2Sankaran Esakki Muthu3Krishnamoorthy Gurushankar4Sengottaiyan Shanmugan5Karthik Kannan6Department of Physics, Meenakshi Ramaswamy Engineering College, Anna University Chennai, Thathanur, Ariyalur 621804, Tamil Nadu, IndiaDepartment of Chemistry, Chennai Institute of Technology, Kundrathur, Chennai 600069, Tamil Nadu, IndiaDepartment of Computer Science and Engineering, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai 602105, Tamil Nadu, IndiaCentre for Material Science, Department of Physics, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education, Coimbatore 641021, Tamil Nadu, IndiaDepartment of Physics, School of Advanced Sciences, Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education (Deemed to be University), Krishnankoil 626126, Tamil Nadu, IndiaResearch Centre for Solar Energy, Integrated Research and Discovery, Department of Physics, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation, Green Fields, Vaddeswaram, Guntur 522502, Andhra Pradesh, IndiaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Advanced Institute of Manufacturing with High-Tech Innovations, National Chung Cheng University, Chia-Yi 621301, TaiwanEnhanced 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4141/5/4/50SnS<sub>2</sub>Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>MXenephotocatalytic H<sub>2</sub> productionco-catalystsTiO<sub>2</sub> |
| spellingShingle | Saminathan Varadarajan Andiappan Kavitha Periasamy Selvaraju Sankaran Esakki Muthu Krishnamoorthy Gurushankar Sengottaiyan Shanmugan Karthik Kannan 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 Hydrogen SnS<sub>2</sub> Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>MXene photocatalytic H<sub>2</sub> production co-catalysts TiO<sub>2</sub> |
| title | 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 |
| title_full | 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 |
| title_fullStr | 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 |
| title_full_unstemmed | 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 |
| title_short | 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 |
| title_sort | 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 |
| topic | SnS<sub>2</sub> Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>MXene photocatalytic H<sub>2</sub> production co-catalysts TiO<sub>2</sub> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4141/5/4/50 |
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