Advancements in 2D Ti3C2 MXene interfaced various metal oxide semiconductors for photoelectrochemical water splitting: A review

초록

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting offers a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable strategy for producing clean hydrogen (H2) energy. Unlike the photocatalytic H2 production, PEC photoelectrodes can be fabricated through simple techniques such as hydrothermal synthesis, sputter deposition, and spin coating on conductive substrates like ITO or FTO. Semiconductors including TiO2, ZnO, WO3, Fe2O3, and BiVO4 have been extensively investigated for PEC applications. However, their performance is frequently constrained by charge carrier recombination, which adversely affects PEC stability and efficiency. To address these limitations, the incorporation of two-dimensional (2D) Ti3C2 MXene at the semiconductor interface has emerged as a promising strategy for enhancing PEC performance through charge carrier separation. Thus, this review highlights recent advancements in the integration of Ti3C2 MXene and semiconductor matrices using facile fabrication methods. Particularly, Ti3C2 MXene in the form of zero-dimensional (0D) quantum dots (QDs) not only modulate the semiconductor bandgap but also improves light absorption capabilities. Thus, special attention is given to the role of Ti3C2 surface morphology at the semiconductor interface, where it promotes efficient charge separation and reduced recombination losses. Furthermore, we examine the MXene integration on photoconversion efficiency and long-term operational stability without altering the structural and morphological features. In conclusion, this review offers valuable insights into the design of stable and high-performance Ti3C2 MXene/semiconductor interface photoelectrodes under scalable synthesis. We provide challenges and future directions for advancing 2D Ti3C2 MXene-based PEC systems. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.

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