Interfacial Engineering of TiO2/Ti3C2 MXene/Carbon Nitride Hybrids Boosting Charge Transfer for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Charge separation and transfer are central issues dominating the underlying energy conversion mechanisms of photosynthetic systems. Here, inspired by nature, a multi-interfacial engineering strategy for constructing a strongly coupled interactive transmission network for stable and efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production is proposed. A multivariate all-solid-state Z-scheme with intimate electron interactions is formed through strong bridging bonds due to Ti orbit modulation and stacking hybridization between hybrids. The electron couple structure realizes an efficient carrier directional separation and transfer, enabling the charge separation efficiency to be enhanced dramatically by 7.2 times. Furthermore, the resulting material provides a highly stable photocatalytic hydrogen activity, up to 15.29 mmol h(-1) g(-1), 18.8 times higher than pure carbon nitride, surpassing many reported photocatalysts. This work represents a significant development and helps develop a sound foundation for future design principles in accelerating charge transfer.

Automated summary

A nature-inspired multi-interfacial engineering strategy was proposed for constructing a stable and efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production system. By forming a multivariate all-solid-state Z-scheme through Ti orbit modulation and stacking hybridization, efficient electron transfer and separation were achieved, dramatically enhancing charge separation efficiency.