A self-powered photoelectrochemical ultraviolet photodetector based on Ti3C2T x /TiO2 in situ formed heterojunctions

Abstract Transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes), as a large family of emerging two-dimensional materials, have demonstrated extraordinary performance in many fields such as electronics, optics and energy storage. However, their susceptibility to oxidation during preparation and storage in ambient air environment is undesirable for long-term and stable applications. Here, we have demonstrated that the spontaneous oxidation of Ti 3 C 2 T x can be harnessed ingeniously to prepare Ti 3 C 2 T x /TiO 2 in situ formed heterojunctions. Furthermore, a self-powered ultraviolet photodetector was constructed based on the photoelectrochemical performance of Ti 3 C 2 T x /TiO 2 heterojunctions. Since the highly conductive Ti 3 C 2 T x can promote the separation and transfer of photogenerated carriers in TiO 2 , the prepared photodetector exhibits high responsivity (2.06 mA W −1 ), short rise and decay times (45 and 69 ms) and long-term stability. This work demonstrates the controllable synthesis of Ti 3 C 2 T x /TiO 2 heterojunctions and provides a new promising potential of MXenes for photodetection applications.