Ag(3)PO(4)-Deposited TiO(2)@Ti(3)C(2) Petals for Highly Efficient Photodecomposition of Various Organic Dyes under Solar Light

Two-dimensional Ti(3)C(2) MXenes can be used to fabricate hierarchical TiO(2) nanostructures that are potential photocatalysts. In this study, the photodecomposition of organic dyes under solar light was investigated using flower-like TiO(2)@Ti(3)C(2), deposited using narrow bandgap Ag(3)PO(4). The surface morphology, crystalline structure, surface states, and optical bandgap properties were determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), nitrogen adsorption analysis, and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS). Overall, Ag(3)PO(4)-deposited TiO(2)@Ti(3)C(2), referred to as Ag(3)PO(4)/TiO(2)@Ti(3)C(2), demonstrated the best photocatalytic performance among the as-prepared samples, including TiO(2)@Ti(3)C(2), pristine Ag(3)PO(4), and Ag(3)PO(4)/TiO(2) P25. Organic dyes, such as rhodamine B (RhB), methylene blue (MB), crystal violet (CV), and methylene orange (MO), were efficiently degraded by Ag(3)PO(4)/TiO(2)@Ti(3)C(2). The significant enhancement of photocatalysis by solar light irradiation was attributed to the efficient deposition of Ag(3)PO(4) nanoparticles on flower-like TiO(2)@Ti(3)C(2) with the efficient separation of photogenerated e-/h+ pairs, high surface area, and extended visible-light absorption. Additionally, the small size of Ag(3)PO(4) deposition (ca. 4–10 nm diameter) reduces the distance between the core and the surface of the composite, which inhibits the recombination of photogenerated charge carriers. Free radical trapping tests were performed, and a photocatalytic mechanism was proposed to explain the synergistic photocatalysis of Ag(3)PO(4)/TiO(2)@Ti(3)C(2) under solar light.