Recent progress on the preparation and application in photocatalysis of 2D MXene-based materials

Since the discovery of MXene in 2011, its physical and chemical diversity has led to MXene being considered as a potential 2D material with a wide range of applications due to its tunable structure and rich surface chemistry. This review focuses on summarizing the preparation methods of MXene, MXene-based and MXene-derived two-dimensional photocatalysts and their application research progress in the field of photocatalysis. The preparation methods of MXene are described in detail from three aspects: wet etching method, anhydrous etching method and direct synthesis method. Meanwhile, the strategies for the insertion and layering of multilayer MXene and the synthesis process of MXene-based and MXene-derived photocatalysts are described. In addition, we present recent research on MXene-based and MXene-derived photocatalysts for environmental and energy applications, including water decomposition to release H2, CO2 reduction, nitrogen fixation, and other photocatalytic applications. Finally, challenges and perspectives for MXene research are presented.