Boosting hydrogen peroxide production of brookite TiO2 with Au and MXene co-catalysis under UV light

Abstract

In this study, a new brookite TiO₂/monolayer Ti₃C₂T_x MXene/Au composite was developed for photocatalytic synthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). The optimal ratios of MXene and Au were found to be 0.4% and 15%, respectively. Quenching experiments confirmed that the superoxide anion radical (·O₂⁻) was the primary intermediate species in the reaction, suggesting a two-step, single-electron indirect process. The improved efficiency of H₂O₂ production was attributed to the effects of MXene and Au, which help to separate and transfer photogenerated electron–hole pairs and suppress their recombination.