Ultrasonic processing of WO3 nanosheets integrated Ti3C2 MXene 2D-2D based heterojunctions with synergistic effects for enhanced water splitting and environmental remediation

Abstract

This article describes a straightforward chemical procedure that involves hydrothermal and ultrasonic treatments to create a new 2D/2D ultrathin WO3/Ti3C2 heterojunctions. The features of the fabricated heterojunctions were characterized and examined by field emission electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical absorption spectroscopy (UV–Vis). By photodegrading an organic dye under the influence of visible light, the photocatalytic degradation capabilities of the heterojunctions were also investigated. The performance of WO3/Ti3C2 was superior to that of bare WO3, with a removal rate of 94% and a kinetic rate constant (k) that was approximately 3 times that of WO3. The creation of 2D/2D heterojunction was observed to encourage the spatial charge separation and increase the surface reactive sites, to result with the increased photocatalytic activity in WO3/Ti3C2 heterojunction. The photocurrent values discovered through photoelectrochemical studies further indicated Ti3C2′s active function in enhancing water-splitting performance. The impedance analysis examined by an electrochemical method revealed that heterojunctions might be helpful in accelerating the migration of charges quickly to get the outcomes seen. © 2023 The Author(s)