Recent Advances in Diverse MXenes‐Based Structures for Photocatalytic CO<sub>2</sub> Reduction into Renewable Hydrocarbon Fuels
Qijun Tang, Tianhao Li, Wenguang Tu, Haiqiang Wang, Yong Zhou, Zhigang Zou
Abstract
Abstract Photocatalytic CO 2 reduction into renewable hydrocarbon fuels is a green solution to address CO 2 emission and energy issues simultaneously. However, the fast recombination of photogenerated charge carriers and the sluggish surface reaction kinetics restrict the efficiency of photocatalytic CO 2 reduction. The emergence of 2D MXenes has potential in improving the efficiency of photocatalytic CO 2 reduction, owing to their high electrical conductivity, flexible structural properties, and abundant active sites. Hence, this review will concisely summarize and highlight recent advances of MXenes‐based photocatalysts used in photocatalytic CO 2 reduction. First, the synthesis and properties of MXenes is briefly introduced. Second, the mechanism of CO 2 photoreduction along with the roles of MXenes in photocatalytic CO 2 reduction are summarized, including promoting the adsorption of CO 2 , enhancing the separation of photo‐induced charge carriers, acting as a robust support, and photothermal effect. Third, different kinds of MXenes‐based photocatalysts such as MXenes/metal oxides, MXenes/nitrides, MXenes/LDH, MXenes/perovskite, and MXene‐derived photocatalysts for CO 2 reduction are classified via the type of semiconductors. Finally, the challenges and perspectives are also presented, including exploring suitable MXenes via machine learning, uncovering the structure‐activity relationship by in situ, time‐ and space‐resolved characterization techniques, improving anti‐oxidization ability, and scale‐up applications.