Single 2D MXene precursor-derived TiO2 nanosheets with a uniform decoration of amorphous carbon for enhancing photocatalytic water splitting

A high visible-light active TiO2 photocatalyst was prepared by simultaneously constructing ordered nanosheet structure and decoration of a homogeneous carbon layer from a single 2D MXene precursor. The TiO2 nanosheets/C composite exhibited a boosted photocatalytic activity under visible light condition up to three times of benchmark Degussa P25. It was revealed that the high photocatalytic activity can be ascribed to three major aspects. One was that the stacked nanosheets with ordered structure inherited from the 2D MXene, endowed a favorable electron-hole separation and transportation. The second was the decoration of carbon layer that evidently extended the absorption to more visible light region. Besides, the carbon layer also facilitated the separation and migration of photogenerated carriers. The proposed in-situ carbonization strategy with a uniformly decoration on TiO2 with remarkable visible light photocatalytic activity would greatly promote the wide application of TiO2 such as in photocatalytic water splitting.