MXene as an Uprising Nanosheet for Environmental Remediation

Photocatalysis is a greener process used over the years in environmental applications, in which the sunlight is utilized as energy to produce holes and electrons in semiconducting material that eliminate pollutants by producing reactive oxygen species. Photodegradation using photocatalysis represents an environmentally favorable, economically viable, and sustainable approach to the elimination of contaminants. Organic contaminants were extensively present in the environment through the realms of agriculture, animal husbandry, and medicine. Due to their excessive utilization as well as untreated wastewater has emerged as a primary factor contributing to the worldwide concern of antimicrobial resistance. Mitigation of CO2 emission and heavy metal adsorption is also an environmental issue to be addressed through eco-friendly methods. There were so many semiconducting materials explored and used in this field. Materials like boron nitride, carbon nitride, black phosphorous, transition metal dichalcogenides, metal oxides, and metal sulfides have been studied widely. These materials hold good properties required for photocatalyst yet some drawbacks like rapid recombination of charge carriers, hydrophobic nature, and limited surface area. MXene is a novel 2D material that exhibits new and enhanced properties such as hydrophilicity, excellent metallic conductivity, and large surface area. The photocatalytic potential of this material remains unexplored, despite its extensive investigation in the fields of electrochemistry and energy storage. The subject under consideration has several obstacles pertaining to its stability and activity, yet it also exhibits favorable qualities that warrant further exploration. MXene has been documented as an effective photocatalyst under solar light illumination due to its ability to adjust its band gap. Photocatalysis using MXene may potentially contribute to the mitigation of environmental pollution. In this chapter, studies on MXene and its evolving synthesis methods, as well as classifications of MXene, are discussed. The main aim is to elaborate more on the MXene-based composite’s efficiency and applications. Hence, MXene as a blooming material in environmental remediation is discussed.