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Co-Catalyst Ti3C2TX MXene-Modified ZnO Nanorods Photoanode for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

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Abstract

In order to obtain a high photoelectrochemical performance, co-catalysts loading is the most commonly used way, which can facilitate reactions and suppress the charge recombination. In this paper, a novel composite of ZnO/Ti3C2TX photoanode was fabricated by a facile spin coating of precipitating Ti3C2TX (MXene) flakes onto the surface of ZnO, as co-catalyst for enhanced photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Under simulated sunlight, the optimum composite of ZnO/Ti3C2TX photoanode showed the photocurrent density as 1.2 mA cm−2 at 1.23 VRHE, which is 1.4 times higher than that of pristine ZnO without Ti3C2TX co-catalyst (0.83 mA cm−2 at 1.23 VRHE). The ZnO/Ti3C2TX photoanode showed a photoconversion efficiency of 0.32% and maintained a stable photocurrent over 2000s. The Ti3C2TX (MXene) flakes as co-catalyst to promote the charge transfer and accelerates the reaction kinetics in ZnO/Ti3C2TX photoanode. This work delivers a two-dimensional (2D) material Ti3C2TX (MXene) as co-catalyst for enhanced ZnO photoanode PEC water splitting.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful for the financial support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21676226), Key Research and Development Program in Hunan Province (2019GK2041), Hunan Key Laboratory of Environment Friendly Chemical Process Integrated Technology and Collaborative Innovation Center of New Chemical Technologies for Environmental Benignity and Efficient Resource Utilization. The science and technology innovation Program of Hunan Province (2021RC2089), Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2021A1515110136).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemical Engineering, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, 411105, People’s Republic of China

    Cheng Zhong, Zhichao Shang, Caixian Zhao, He’an Luo, Dejian Yan & Kuiyi You

  2. National & Local United Engineering Research Center for Chemical Process Simulation and Intensification, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, 411105, People’s Republic of China

    He’an Luo, Dejian Yan & Kuiyi You

  3. Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Typical Environmental Pollution and Health Hazards, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421000, People’s Republic of China

    Yi Cao

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  1. Cheng Zhong
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Zhong, C., Shang, Z., Zhao, C. et al. Co-Catalyst Ti3C2TX MXene-Modified ZnO Nanorods Photoanode for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting. Top Catal 66, 12–21 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11244-022-01619-0

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