Synthesis and characterization of Cr₂AlC MAX phase for photocatalytic applications

MAX phase, a layered ternary carbide/nitride, displays both ceramic and metallic properties, which has significantly attracted the materials research. In this work, Cr₂AlC MAX phase powder with high purity was fabricated via a facile and cost-effective pressure-less sintering methodology and utilized for photocatalytic degradation of different organic pollutants for the first time. Various characterization techniques were used for confirming the morphological and other physico-chemical properties of the catalyst. Cr₂AlC MAX phase with a low band gap of 1.28 eV has shown 99% efficiency in the degradation of malachite green, an organic pollutant under visible light irradiation. The scavenger studies conclude that, O₂^•-and h⁺ as the active species during the photocatalytic reaction. Furthermore, the kinetic study revealed that the reaction obeys pseudo-first-order kinetics and can be reused for four cycles without losing the activity. This novel approach can give new insight into the potential application of MAX phase materials in the field of wastewater treatment under visible light irradiation.