Unveiling the potential of MXene-fabricated catalysts: an effective approach for H2 generation from water splitting

Abstract

Hydrogen has enough potential and can be successfully used as an alternative to the conventional fuel. It can be successfully produced from water that is not only a sustainable source but exists everywhere on earth. Additionally, its combustion releases water that is quite safe and environment friendly. The current project was designed to generate hydrogen from catalytic water splitting on TiO₂@Ti₃C₂T_x catalysts. To obtain the required catalytic characteristics, titania was engineered on Ti₃C₂T_x surfaces in situ using an ethanol-assisted solvothermal approach. After careful recovery, the catalysts were characterized and assessed for the photoreaction. All photoreactions were performed in a quartz reactor (150 mL), where hydrogen evolution activities were monitored on GC-TCD (Shimadzu-JP). The comparative activities indicated that TiO₂@C and TiO₂@Ti₃C₂T_x catalysts deliver 9.37 and 18.57 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ of hydrogen, respectively. The higher activities of TiO₂@Ti₃C₂T_x were attributed to the existence of higher active sites (charge trapping centres) on the multilayer MXene that progressively promote and facilitate redox reactions. Reason is that existence of titania on MXene interfaces develops heterojunctions that rectify the charge transfer; hence reduce the charge recombination (i.e., back reaction). On the basis of encouraging activities, it has been concluded that the aforementioned approach holds promise to replace the costly and conventional hydrogen generation technologies.