MXene-Based Photocatalysts

Prof. Zuzeng Qin obtained his bachelor degree and Ph. D. in Chemical Engineering and Technology at Guangxi University in 2000 and 2009, respectively,and worked as a postdoc at Sun Yat-Sen University from Aug. 2012 to Mar. 2015, and went to The University of Tennessee, Knoxville as a visiting scholar from Oct. 2015 to Oct. 2016. The present research interests of Prof. Qin are the environmental-friendly catalytic processes, synthesis/separation of fine chemicals, and 2D materials for environmental and energy. He is the Vice-dean of School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi University, and the editorial board member of Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials.Dr. Tongming Su obtained his Ph.D. in industrial catalysis from the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi University, China in 2018. From Sept. 2016 to Mar. 2018, He conducted scientific research on MXene-based materials at Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL) and The University of Tennessee, Knoxville as a Joint PhD student supported by China Scholarship Council. He is currently an Assistant Professor at the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi University, China. His research interests focus on the synthesis of MXene-based materials and their applications in catalysis, energy conversion, and environmental remediation.Prof. Hongbing Ji is from the School of Chemistry at Sun Yat-sen University. He is the winner of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, the young and middle-aged leader of science and technology innovation of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Distinguished Professor of the Pearl River Scholars of Guangdong Province, the Dean of the Fine Chemical Research Institute of Sun Yat-sen University, the Dean of the Huizhou Research Institute of Sun Yat-sen University, and the editorial board member of Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology and Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering.

High on the list of critically important environmental technologies likely to play an increasing leadership role in coming decades are photocatalytic processes for energy conversion driven by MXene-based photocatalysts. Synthesized for the very first time in 2011, these novel, next-generation transition metal carbides and nitrides offer attractive new alternative pathways to high-value materials chemistries realized from water-splitting, carbon dioxide reduction, lithium-ion batteries, solar energy manufacturing—and the list could go on. Drawing contributions from Asian constituencies in China and Malaysia, editors Qin, Su (both, Guangxi Univ.), and Ji (Sun Yat-sen Univ.) offer a notable monograph beginning with a two-page introduction useful for a broader audience. Specialized chapters outlining preparatory methods, morphology, and microstructure of MXene-based photocatalysts and characteristic properties of MXene itself and MXene-facilitated photocatalysis follow. Concluding chapters deal more extensively with various industrial fabrication methods and applications. Each chapter is well documented with references current to 2021. Illustrations, mainly in black-and-white, are typically small and often hard to read but suitable and helpful. This is important stuff and well researched. Advanced undergraduates and professionals working in the field will be pleased to have access to this volume—as was this reviewer.Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates. Graduate students, faculty, and professionals. Students in two-year technical programs.–L. W. Fine, Columbia University, CHOICE, May 2023

• 1. Introduction 2. Preparation Method for MXene 3. Morphology and Microstructure of MXene 4. Property of MXene 5. Construction of MXene-Based Photocatalysts 6. Application of MXene-Based Photocatalyst for Photocatalytic Water-Splitting 7. Application of MXene-Based Photocatalyst for Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction 8. Application of MXene-Based Photocatalyst for Photocatalytic Degradation 9. Application of MXene-Based Photocatalyst in Other Photocatalytic Fields