Application of Ti3C2(OH)2 MXene Nanosheets as a Potential Adsorbent and Photocatalyst for Degradation of Organic Dye in Aqueous Media

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Chemistry, Savadkooh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Savadkooh, Iran

2 Center of Excellence in Electrochemistry, School of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Life Science Engineering, Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

In this work, single layered Ti3C2(OH)2 MXene nanosheets have been successfully prepared through a facile approach by etching Ti3AlC2 with alkaline solution treatment (KOH with minimum amounts of water). The structure and morphology of the produced nanosheets were evaluated through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analysis and the chemical composition was determined using an energy dispersion X-ray (EDX) spectrometer. Methylene Blue (MB) as a target pollutant adsorption and photocatalytic degradation tests were subsequently performed to assess the functionalities of hydroxyl-terminated MXene. MB removal using Ti3C2(OH)2 MXene in the dark in 20 minutes achieved an absorption-desorption balance of 51.2%, and then MB was degraded within 80 minutes under UV light irradiation with great efficiency. Our results presented that the powder of as produced exhibited good photocatalytic activity for three cycles photodegradation. The first-order rate constant (k) was calculated to be 0.0372 1/min. About 97% degradation of Methylene Blue dye in the solution was confirmed within 80 min of exposure to ultraviolet light.

Keywords


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