MXene-derived Ti3C2Tx/Bi4Ti3O12 heterojunction photocatalyst for enhanced degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride, rhodamine B, and methyl orange under visible-light irradiation

Visible-light responsive two-dimensional (2D) MXene heterostructure photocatalysts with synergistic photoelectron migration represent a practical approach with potential applications in water remediation. The present study reports the facile in-situ solvothermal synthesis of a heterojunction composite comprising Ti3C2Tx/Bi4Ti3O12. The novel composite photocatalyst exhibits remarkable visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity towards complete degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC-HCl), rhodamine B (RhB), and methyl orange (MO) by TB-20 within 20, 50, and 60 minutes of illumination, respectively. Furthermore, the exposed facet Ti3C2Tx/Bi4Ti3O12 heterojunction exhibits a synergistic effect with photocatalytic reactions, as evidenced by the transfer of photogenerated carriers and generation of ·O2-, thereby enhancing the performance of catalytic degradation of organic dyes. This study advances the development of photocatalysis by utilizing the MXene substrate to fabricate hierarchical structure composites, enabling efficient degradation of antibiotics and solar energy conversion for future applications.