Constructing Ti3C2 MXene/ZnIn2S4 heterostructure as a Schottky catalyst for photocatalytic environmental remediation

It is highly demanded to steer the charge flow in semiconductor for efficient photocatalytic environmental remediation. Herein, we designed an interfacial contact Ti3C2 MXene/ZnIn2S4 nanosheets (TC/ZISNS) Schottky heterostructure which could greatly enhance photogenerated charge separation of ZnIn2S4 (ZIS). Through TEM and XPS measurement, the strong interface coupling between 2D ZnIn2S4 nanosheets and 2D Ti3C2 MXene were explained, and the formation of Schottky heterostructure was demonstrated by electrochemical method. To investigate the photocatalytic activity of as-prepared samples, the photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) and photocatalytic oxidation degradation tetracycline hydrochloride (TC-H) experiments were carried out. The results showed that the Schottky catalyst (10%-TC/ZISNS) possessed the optimum photocatalytic efficiency. Especially, the apparent rate constant of Cr(VI) reduction with 10%-TC/ZISNS was 3.9 times than that of pure ZIS. The photocatalytic performance of 10%-TC/ZISNS toward degradation rate of TC-H was 1.8 times than that of pure ZIS. Finally, a possible mechanism for great enhancement of visible-light driven photocatalytic activity in the TC/ZISNS system was provided. On the whole, this work provided a new insight on 2D/2D contact Schottky heterostructure for enhancing photocatalytic activity.