Abstract
Hydrogen (H2) is a type of green energy that serves as a promising fossil fuel. The synergistic effects of photo-catalysis and piezocatalysis have been demonstrated as effective methods for enhancing hydrogen production. This study presents the synthesis and potential application of Ti3C2 MXene quantum dots modified BaTiO3 nanowires for hydrogen production. The successful synthesis of the nanowires was confirmed through X-ray diffraction patterns, scanning and transmission electron microscopy images, as well as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements. Utilizing UV-visible absorbance spectra, photocurrent response, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy curves, it was confirmed that the incorporation of Ti3C2 MXene quantum dots enhances light absorption and charge carrier separation. The piezoelectric effect of BaTiO3, induced by sonic vibrations, generates additional charge carriers and facilitates more efficient separation of photogenerated charge carriers, further enhancing H2 production. The evaluation of H2 production revealed a remarkable yield of 1315.4 mu mol/(g center dot h) in piezo-photocatalysis for the Ti3C2-QDs@BaTiO3-2 nanowires. This yield is approximately 4.3 times higher than that of the pure BaTiO3 in the piezo-photocatalysis process and about 2.7 times higher than that of the Ti3C2-QDs@BaTiO3-2 in the photocatalysis process.