BaTiO2@MXene nanocomposites as efficient photocatalysts for organic dye degradation

Abstract

We herein report the synthesis of a novel BaTiO₂@MXene nanocomposite, a coherent adsorbent for removing methylene blue (MB) dye from water media. The composite was synthesised by hydrothermal synthesis of BaTiO₂ nanoparticles followed by integration with multilayered MXene nanosheets. Structural investigation and surface analyses using XRD, FTIR, XPS, and SEM confirmed successful BaTiO₂@MXene nanocomposite formation, with reduced crystallinity and strong interfacial interactions, along with uniform BaTiO₂ dispersion across the MXene layers. Adsorption studies revealed that the 12 wt% BaTiO₂@MXene composite obtained a degradation efficiency of 73.97% under the optimised conditions. Kinetic modelling revealed that the fractional-order kinetic model provided the best fit for the adsorption behaviour, indicating a complex mechanism likely involving multiple interaction pathways. Additionally, the stable data closely align with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R² ∼ 0.9904), demonstrating that the adsorption process is governed by chemical adsorption occurring on homogeneous active sites. The adsorption process was driven by electrostatic attractions, π–π stacking interactions, and MB molecules’ H-bonding and the composite surface. These results show the enormous potential of BaTiO₂@MXene nanocomposites for empirical applications in water treatment and environmental remediation.