MXene/SiO2-CeO2 Nanoarchitectures for Photothermal-Catalytic Environmental Applications

MXenes, a family of two-dimensional transition metal carbides and nitrides, exhibit exceptional electrical conductivity, tunable surface chemistry, and strong broadband light absorption. However, their practical implementation is often limited by structural instability, such as restacking and surface oxidation. In this study, we propose a strategy for the design of hybrid nanocomposites based on exfoliated Ti3C2Tx MXene embedded within a porous silica (SiO2) matrix and further functionalized with cerium dioxide (CeO2) nanoparticles. The SiO2 matrix, synthesized via a sol–gel approach, ensures homogeneous dispersion, increased porosity, and thermal stability, effectively reducing MXene restacking. Simultaneously, CeO2 nanoparticles create surface oxygen vacancies and enhance interfacial reactivity. Comprehensive structural, morphological, surface, and optical characterizations confirm the formation of stable, light-responsive nanoarchitectures with tailored textural properties. Furthermore, the obtained material exhibit promising photothermal-catalytic properties. This work offers a materials-oriented approach for engineering multifunctional MXene-based architectures with enhanced photothermal performance, exemplified by their potential application in the photothermo-catalytic CO2 conversion into solar fuels, showcasing the broader possibilities enabled by these materials.