Synergistic enhancement of photocatalytic properties in ternary Cu2O/TiO2@Ti3C2Tx MXene composites

Abstract Water pollution has always been an inescapable challenge in the development of human society. Photocatalytic technology is regarded to be a promising strategy for water pollution control. In this work, a novel Cu₂O/TiO₂@Ti₃C₂Tx MXene photocatalyst is constructed to obtain diverse electron transport pathways, thereby promoting charge separation and achieving superior photocatalytic performance. The synergistic effects of composite photocatalytic materials are instrumental in degrading organic dyes under visible light. The successful construction of a heterojunction structure between Cu₂O and in situ generated TiO₂ mitigates charge recombination post-separation, significantly extending the lifetime of photogenerated carriers. Additionally, the incorporation of Ti₃C₂Tx serves as an effective conductive medium, facilitating the separation and transfer of photogenerated charges within the material. Therefore, the Cu₂O/TiO₂@Ti₃C₂Tx MXene composites exhibit exceptional photocatalytic activity, showcasing the best performance, achieving a degradation rate of 71.5% after 3 h of visible light irradiation. These findings underscore the potential of this new compound in enhancing photocatalytic organic degradation, highlighting the promising application prospects of photocatalytic materials.