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Solar-Powered Hydrogen Production Enabled by a Robust and Efficient MoS2/Ti3C2 Heterojunction Catalyst
1  Departamento de Química, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Av. España 1680, Valparaíso, Chile.
Academic Editor: Giovanni Esposito

Abstract:

The development of highly efficient and economically viable solar-driven catalysts for hydrogen (H2) production is of paramount importance in the pursuit of sustainable and clean energy alternatives to fossil fuels. Among the materials explored for this purpose, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and two-dimensional (2D) materials have gained significant attention due to their unique structural, electronic, and surface properties, which make them promising candidates for photocatalytic applications. In particular, MXenes such as Ti3C2 stand out for their metallic conductivity, high surface area, hydrophilicity, and versatile functionalization possibilities. In this study, a series of MoS2/Ti3C2 (X) heterostructured nanocomposites (where X = 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 wt.%) were successfully synthesized via a simple one-step hydrothermal method. The synthesized materials were thoroughly characterized using state-of-the-art analytical and spectroscopic techniques to investigate their composition, morphology, crystallinity, and optical features. Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution tests were performed in a methanol–water sacrificial solution under visible-light irradiation to evaluate their activity. Among all samples, the MoS2/Ti3C2 5% composite demonstrated the highest hydrogen evolution rate, outperforming pure Ti3C2, pure MoS2, and the other composites in the series. The superior photocatalytic performance of the MoS2/Ti3C2 5% heterojunction is attributed to the synergistic interaction between the MoS2 nanosheets and Ti3C2 MXene layers, which facilitates more efficient interfacial charge transfer. The formation of a well-matched heterojunction promotes rapid electron migration while suppressing recombination of photogenerated electron–hole pairs, resulting in enhanced photocatalytic activity. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and photoluminescence (PL) analyses further support this conclusion by revealing improved charge separation efficiency and lower recombination rates in the optimized composite. Overall, this work provides compelling evidence that 2D MoS2/Ti3C2 hybrid structures serve as high-performance, durable, and cost-effective photocatalysts for solar-driven hydrogen production. The results not only highlight the potential of MXene-based heterostructures in renewable energy applications but also offer valuable design insights for developing next-generation hybrid photocatalysts for efficient solar energy conversion.

Keywords: Solar-Driven, Hydrogen production, Ti3C2, MoS2, 2D heterostructure, Electron-hole pair.

 
 
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