Unconventional Photoconversion from In‐Plane 2D Heterostructures of 2D Transition Metal Carbides/Semiconductors
Bowei Zhang, Tianshu Chu, Qi Bai, Chongqin Zhu, Joseph S. Francisco, Fuzhen Xuan
Abstract
2D transition metal carbides/nitrides (MXenes) are thought of promising photothermal materials due to their broadband localized surface plasma resonance (LSPR) and attractive electromagnetic interference (EMI) properties. However, the weak oxidation resistance and unclear photothermal mechanism of MXenes impede their photothermal modulations. Herein, the in‐plane 2D Ti 3 C 2 /TiO 2 heterostructures are fabricated by partial oxidation and an unconventional photothermal effect under near infrared irradiation, even if the oxidation compromises the EMI and LSPR capacities, is demonstrated. Such performance is ascribed to the faster transfer of photoexcited electrons across the seamless in‐plane Ti 3 C 2 /TiO 2 heterointerface than the reported out‐of‐plane one, and the 1–2 orders of magnitude faster relaxation processes of electrons than the ground bleaching in the Original MXene. These experimental results are well‐supported by theoretical calculations. The conceptual advances broaden the fundamental understanding of the photoconversion of MXenes, which would be extended into a variety of applications, such as biomedical therapy, photosynthesis, and photovoltaics.