Photocatalytic CO2 Conversion with H2O to CO and CH4 Over V2C/TiO2 Composite
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31272/jeasd.2877Keywords:
Cocatalyst, Conversion, Photoactivity, Titanium Dioxide, Vanadium Carbide MXeneAbstract
Photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to valuable chemicals and fuels requires highly efficient semiconductor materials, and most available photocatalysts are less efficient. Due to their unique electrical properties, the new family of two-dimensional materials known as MXenes has drawn much interest in photocatalytic applications. The vanadium carbide (V2C) is one of the significant MXenes being considered because of its many advantages over other materials. In this work, V2C-loaded TiO2 composites were synthesized and tested for photocatalytic reduction of CO2 with H2O to produce value-added CO and CH4 fuels in a continuous flow photoreactor system. The optimized 10 % V2C-TiO2 was responsible for CO and CH4 formation of 1233.8 and 85.2 µmol g-1 h-1, respectively, which were many-fold higher than using pure TiO2. This enhanced photoactivity of the composite was due to increased conductivity, many active sites, and higher light absorbance, which allowed for the efficient separation of charge carriers and light absorbance. Thus, MXenes, particularly 2D V2C MXene, would be a promising cocatalyst to combine with a semiconductor to maximize photocatalytic activity during CO2 reduction application.
References
M. Tahir and R. Mansoor, "Constructing Highly Stable CoAl-LDH-Coupled g-C3N4 2D/2D Heterojunctions for Solar Energy-Driven Conversion of Flared Gas to Syngas through Dry-/Bireforming of Methane," Energy & Fuels, vol. 37, no. 7, pp. 5241-5256, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.2c03760.
M. Yang et al., "Atomic activation triggering selective photoreduction of CO2 to CH4 over NiAl-LDH/CeO2 heterojunction," Chem. Eng. J., vol. 472, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2023.145071.
M. Tahir, B. Tahir, N. A. Saidina Amin, and H. Alias, "Selective photocatalytic reduction of CO2 by H2O/H2 to CH4 and CH3OH over Cu-promoted In2O3/TiO2 nanocatalyst," Appl. Surf. Sci., vol. 389, pp. 46-55, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2016.06.155.
M. Tahir, B. Tahir, N. A. S. Amin, and A. Muhammad, "Photocatalytic CO2 methanation over NiO/In2O3 promoted TiO2 nanocatalysts using H2O and/or H2 reductants," Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 119, pp. 368-378, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2016.04.057.
C. Yavuz and S. E. Ela, "Fabrication of g-C3N4-reinforced CdS nanosphere-decorated TiO2 nanotablet composite material for photocatalytic hydrogen production and dye-sensitized solar cell application," J. Alloys Compd., vol. 936, p. 168209, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2022.168209.
S. Yang, K. Wang, Q. Chen, and Y. Wu, "Enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production of S-scheme TiO2/g-C3N4 heterojunction loaded with single-atom Ni," J. Mater. Sci. Technol., vol. 175, pp. 104-114, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmst.2023.07.044.
B. Yuan, H. Qian, Z. Luo, R. Zhu, and W. Luan, "A green synthetic approach for C/Ag@ urchin-like TiO2 nanocomposites showing a highly molar ratio CH4/CO for CO2 photoreduction," Materials Letters, vol. 349, p. 134758, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2023.134758.
M. Tahir, "Investigating the Influential Effect of Etchant Time in Constructing 2D/2D HCN/MXene Heterojunction with Controlled Growth of TiO2 NPs for Stimulating Photocatalytic H2 Production," Energy & Fuels, vol. 35, no. 8, pp. 6807-6822, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.1c00204.
M. Tahir, "Hierarchical 3D VO2/ZnV2O4 microspheres as an excellent visible light photocatalyst for CO2 reduction to solar fuels," Appl. Surf. Sci., vol. 467-468, pp. 1170-1180, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2018.10.273.
M. Tahir, B. Tahir, Z. Y. Zakaria, and A. Muhammad, "Enhanced photocatalytic carbon dioxide reforming of methane to fuels over nickel and montmorillonite supported TiO2 nanocomposite under UV-light using monolith photoreactor," J. Cleaner Prod., vol. 213, pp. 451-461, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.12.169.
Y. Wang et al., "MIL-68 (In)-derived In2O3@TiO2 S-scheme heterojunction with hierarchical hollow structure for selective photoconversion of CO2 to hydrocarbon fuels," Fuel, vol. 331, p. 125719, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2022.125719.
A. Y. Zerga, M. Tahir, H. Alias, and N. Kumar, "Titanium Carbide MXenes Cocatalyst with Graphitic Carbon Nitride for Photocatalytic H2 Production, CO2 Reduction, and Reforming Applications: A Review on Fundamentals and Recent Advances," Energy & Fuels, vol. 37, no. 17, pp. 12623-12664, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.3c01887.
M. Tahir, "Nanoconfined Ti3C2@in-situ-grown TiO2 and ruthenium triphenylphosphine (Ru-II) coupled g-C3N4 to construct RuP-Ti3C2@TiO2/EC3N4 dual function nanocomposite for enhancing photocatalytic green hydrogen production," Chem. Eng. J., vol. 476, p. 146680, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2023.146680.
Y. Xu et al., "In situ grown two-dimensional TiO2/Ti3CN MXene heterojunction rich in Ti3+ species for highly efficient photoelectrocatalytic CO2 reduction," Chem. Eng. J., vol. 452, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2022.139392.
A. Sherryna, M. Tahir, and Z. Y. Zakaria, "Well-structured V2C MXenes coupled g-C3N4 2D/2D nanohybrids for proficient charge separation with the role of triethanolamine (TEOA) as a protective barrier of g-C3N4 for stimulating photocatalytic H2 production," Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, vol. 51, pp. 1511-1531, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.09.234.
F. Zhang, X. Zhang, S. Hu, H. Hu, J. Ye, and D. Wang, "Selective photothermal reduction of CO2 to CH4 via the synergistic effect of Ni-nanoparticle@NiO-nanosheet/V2C-MXene catalyst," Materials Today Energy, vol. 39, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtener.2023.101470.
M. Tahir, "Well-designed V2AlC MAX supported g-C3N4/TiO2 Z-scheme heterojunction for photocatalytic CO2 reduction through bi-reforming to produce CO and CH4," Energy, vol. 310, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2024.133231.
B. Tahir, M. Tahir, N. Kumar, M. Siraj, and A. Fatehmulla, "Template-free synthesis of hierarchical graphitic carbon nitride (H-gC3N4) embedded with NiO for water splitting and CO2 reduction with the role of hole scavenger: A comparative investigation," Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing, vol. 178, p. 108379, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mssp.2024.108379.
M. Alhabeb et al., "Guidelines for Synthesis and Processing of Two-Dimensional Titanium Carbide (Ti3C2Tx MXene)," Chem. Mater., vol. 29, no. 18, pp. 7633-7644, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.7b02847.
J. Chen et al., "Construction Strategy of VO2@V2C 1D/2D Heterostructure and Improvement of Zinc-Ion Diffusion Ability in VO2 (B)," ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, vol. 14, no. 25, pp. 28760-28768, Jun 29 2022, https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.2c03646.
M. Tahir, "Vanadium Carbide (V2CTx) MXene-Supported Exfoliated g-C3N4 with the Role of Hole Scavenger as a Rapid Electron Transfer Channel for Enhancing Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction to CO and CH4," Energy & Fuels, vol. 37, no. 14, pp. 10615-10630, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.3c01301.
R. Zhao, J. Liu, Y. Nie, and H. Wang, "Bismuth oxide modified V2C MXene as a Schottky catalyst with enhanced photocatalytic oxidation for photo-denitration activities," Environ Technol, vol. 45, no. 9, pp. 1748 - 1759, Dec 6 2022, https://doi.org/10.1080/09593330.2022.2152736.
M. Tahir, "Synergistic Effect of the V2CTx MXene@V2O5/TiO2 NP Composite for Stimulating Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction through Bireforming of Methanol to Produce CO and CH4," Energy & Fuels, vol. 38, no. 11, pp. 10183-10202, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.3c05215.
L. Tan et al., "Dual conductive confinement effects on enhancing Li-ion storage of NaV6O15@VO2(M)@V2C heterojunction," J. Alloys Compd., vol. 964, p. 171242, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2023.171242.
A. Zaka, M. A. Mansoor, M. A. Asghar, A. Haider, and M. Iqbal, "V2C MXene-TiO2 nanocomposite as an efficient electrode material for oxygen evolution reaction (OER)," (in English), Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, vol. 48, no. 89, pp. 34599-34609, Nov 1 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.05.230.
H. Gu et al., "Robust construction of CdSe nanorods@Ti3C2 MXene nanosheet for superior photocatalytic H2 evolution," Appl. Catal., B, vol. 328, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2023.122537.
Z. Haider et al., "Ag Nanoparticle-Decorated V2CTx MXene Nanosheets as Catalysts for Water Splitting," ACS Applied Nano Materials, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 2374-2384, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.2c04428.
S. Akir et al., "Atomic-layered V2C MXene containing bismuth elements: 2D/0D and 2D/2D nanoarchitectonics for hydrogen evolution and nitrogen reduction reaction," Nanoscale, vol. 15, no. 30, pp. 12648-12659, Aug 3 2023, https://doi.org/10.1039/d3nr01144e.
M. O. Madi and M. Tahir, "Well-designed 2D vanadium carbide (V2C) MXenes supported LaCoO3/g-C3N4 heterojunction for highly efficient and stable photocatalytic CO2 reduction to CO and CH4," J. Alloys Compd., vol. 983, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2024.173730.
M. Madi and M. Tahir, "Fabricating V2AlC/g‐C3N4 nanocomposite with MAX as electron moderator for promoting photocatalytic CO2‐CH4 reforming to CO /H2," International Journal of Energy Research, pp. 1-20, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1002/er.7667.
X. Wang, Z. Jiang, H. Chen, K. Wang, and X. Wang, "Photocatalytic CO2 reduction with water vapor to CO and CH4 in a recirculation reactor by Ag-Cu2O/TiO2 Z-scheme heterostructures," J. Alloys Compd., vol. 896, p. 163030, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2021.163030.
L. Wang et al., "Preparation of CdS-P25/ZIF-67 composite material and its photocatalytic CO2 reduction performance," Appl. Surf. Sci., vol. 584, p. 152645, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2022.152645.
Downloads
Key Dates
Received
Revised
Accepted
Published Online First
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Beenish Tahir, Mustafa Jawad Nuhma, Muhammad Tahir, Abdulrahman Alraeesi, Ali A. Jazie, Naveen Kumar (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
