Abstract:Two-dimensional N-TiO2/Ti3C2 photocatalytic composites were synthesized by simple solvothermal reaction, via aluminum titanium carbide, hydrofluoric acid, sodium fluoroborate were used as raw materials and urea was used as nitrogen source, in which TiO2 nanosheets were grown in-situ on highly conductive Ti3C2 MXenes (two dimensional transition metal carbide) nanosheets and meanwhile nitrogen element was doped into TiO2. The catalyst samples were characterized by X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectrometer, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectrometer, photoluminescence spectrometer, etc. The results showed that N-TiO2/Ti3C2 composites showed significantly enhanced photocatalytic degradation ability toward RhB under visible light irradiation, and the degradation rate constant of N-TiO2/Ti3C2 was 8.41 times higher than that of pure TiO2 and degradation ratio was 96.3% within 150min. This is mainly because the doping of nitrogen element narrowed the band gap of TiO2 and extended the light response range to the visible light region. At the same time, the in-situ growth of TiO2 nanosheets formed a close contact interface by Ti3C2 MXenes nanosheets with excellent electrical conductivity, which promoted the separation and migration of photogenerated carriers. The results of free radical trapping experiments and electron spin resonance tests showed that •O2- and •OH were the main active species for RhB degradation in the N-TiO2/Ti3C2 photocatalytic system. In addition, N-TiO2/Ti3C2 composites possess good stability and reusability.