MXene-Derived Ti₃C₂–TiO₂/BiOCl Heterojunctions with Enhanced Visible-Light Photocatalysis and Electrochemical Activity

Abstract

Environmental pollution particularly from persistent organic contaminants like phenol and increasing demand for efficient energy storage materials are urgent global challenges. To overcome these, Ti_3 C_2-TiO_2/BiOCl heterojunction was engineered to significantly enhance photocatalytic degradation and energy storage. The combination of Ti_3 C_2-TiO_2 hybrid and BiOCl improved charge separation ability and intensified visible light absorption ability as evidenced by XRD, SEM and UV-Vis spectroscopy with reduced bandgap of 2.82–3.01 eV. DFT revealed metallic conductivity in Ti3C2/TiO₂ while BiOCl incorporation induced interfacial band narrowing bandgap to ∼0.23 eV introducing semiconducting behavior. Raman spectroscopy revealed strong interfacial interactions with characteristic peaks indicating enhanced structural integrity while PL spectra demonstrated remarkable reduction in charge recombination reflecting exceptional charge carrier dynamics. XPS further confirms surface chemical states and interfacial electronic interaction in heterojunction. The composite exhibited photocatalytic activity with 96% phenol degradation under visible light irradiation driven by optimized electron-hole separation. Electrochemical characterization revealed specific capacity of 609 C/g at 1mVs-1 with excellent cycling performance indicating exceptional energy storage capability. The outcomes emphasize potential of Ti_3 C_2-TiO_2/BiOCl as an excellent candidate for environmental remediation and high-performance energy storage.