MXENE AS FUTURE POTENTIAL PHOTOACTIVE CO-CATALYST MATERIAL FOR EFFICIENT VISIBLE LIGHT PHOTODEGRADATION OF PERSISTENT ORGANIC CONTAMINANTS: A REVIEW

Advanced oxidation strategies (AOSs), which are regarded as an eco-friendly approach, are being evaluated as a potential technique to address the escalating energy crisis and environmental issues stemming from the industrial revolution. Traditional wastewater treatment techniques often result in the emission of possibly harmful by-products. Therefore, various semiconductor photocatalysts such as TiO2, ZnO, g-C3N4, CdS, WO3, and ZnS have been under continuous investigation to fulfill the need for efficient treatment of wastewater in a cost-effective approach. However, there is a pressing need to develop engineering strategies for these photocatalytic materials to generate strong capabilities for maintaining high stability, effectively separating charges, and harvesting visible light. This need for innovation arises from the inherently low efficiency of the reactions that occur when employing a single photocatalyst. MXene (2-D titanium carbide) has gained recognition as a promising co-catalyst material in the field of photocatalysis based on its distinctive physicochemical and mechanical characteristics that include a configurable bandgap, extensive surface area, strong conductivity, exceptional structural stability, facile functionalization, and hydrophilicity. The challenges associated with the utilization of an individual semiconductor photocatalyst could be effectively addressed by incorporating MXene as a co-catalyst, thus enhancing the photocatalytic degradation performance. One of the effective techniques for promoting photocatalytic activity and improving the electronic structure by utilizing MXene as a co-catalyst is the generation of Schottky junctions and heterostructures. The overall objective of this paper is to highlight MXene as a prospective co-catalyst for visible light photodegradation of persistent organic contaminants. The article critically focuses on the fundamental principles of photocatalysis, synthesis techniques, and recent advancements in MXene and MXene-based composite photocatalysts for efficient wastewater treatment. It is anticipated that this article will motivate additional research and pave the way for the development of novel, highly effective MXene-modified semiconductor photocatalysts, thereby expanding their potential applications.