MXene-integrated two-dimensional photo-catalysts: A new frontier in sustainable degradation of organic dyes

MXene-based two-dimensional (2D) composites, a class of graphene-like transition metal carbides and nitrides, are emerging as excellent materials for photocatalytic applications due to their promising characteristics, including tunable functionalities and a large surface area. To fabricate MXene-based photocatalysts, various synthesis routes are used, namely, hydrothermal, solvothermal, electrostatic self-assembly, and chemical vapor deposition. The solvothermal and hydrothermal synthesis methods enhance crystallinity and accelerate charge transfer, preventing recombination and boosting photocatalytic activity. Furthermore, etching methods influence MXene’s physicochemical properties, impacting pollutant removal efficiency. MXene composites are used as promising photocatalysts to degrade organic dyes, including Congo Red, Methylene Orange, Rhodamine B, and Methy-lene Blue. MXene composites, namely TiO2/Ti3C2, Bi2WO6/Nb2CTx and MXene/g-C3N4, demonstrate excellent photocatalytic performance, achieving over 90% degradation rate under visible irradiation. However, challenges such as scalability, energy consumption, and structural stability need further investigation to optimize their large-scale applications.