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C/Ti3C2/g-C3N4 hollow microspheres (HM) were prepared by the template method to construct Ti3C2/g-C3N4 Schottky junctions on the spherical surface. The C/Ti3C2/g-C3N4 HM Schottky junctions presented excellent photocatalytic properties for producing hydrogen and decomposing organic pollutants simultaneously from wastewater without the addition of a sacrifice agent. The research revealed that the built-in electric field between g-C3N4 and Ti3C2 MXene could decrease the charge transfer resistance, leading to efficient photo charge separation, and the organic pollutant tetracycline (TC) could act as a sacrifice agent for splitting water. The H2 evolution rate of the CN-TCM-3 sample in deionized water with a sacrifice agent reached 105.4 μmol g−1 h−1, and the TC removal rate reached 100% within 120 min. The hydrogen production efficiency of CN-TCM-3 in the natural water of Slender West Lake without or with TC as a sacrifice agent was 2.3 μmol g−1 h−1 and 3.2 μmol g−1 h−1, respectively. The addition of TC improved the hydrogen production efficiency by 39%. This research indicated that the C/Ti3C2/g-C3N4 HM Schottky junctions could be a potential photocatalyst for producing hydrogen and decomposing organic pollutants in sewage simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent TiO2/polymer nanocomposites (PSEM) with excellent anti-UV light property and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus were designed and prepared successfully by the copolymerization of styrene monomers with dispersed TiO2 nanoparticles, polyethylene glycol (600) dimethacrylate and ethoxylated trimethylolpropane. PSEM nanocomposites could shield ultraviolet light in the wavelength range of 200–368 nm, reducing the transmittance of blue and violet light in the range of 368–500 nm and having a light transmittance of about 91% in the visible light region of 600–800 nm. The results suggested that the interaction between PEG chains and TiO2 nanoparticles could promote the stable dispersion of TiO2 nanoparticles, which was a key for the outstanding transparent performance and highly efficient UV light absorbance. The maximum inhibition zone against Staphylococcus aureus was 28.0 mm. PEG chains in polyethylene glycol (600) dimethacrylate provided soft segments for PSEM nanocomposites, styrene monomers provided hard segments, while ethoxylated trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate enhanced the crosslinking density. The molecular structure design ensured PSEM nanocomposites had tailored mechanical properties and stable thermal properties. The maximum unnotched impact strength, tensile strength, bending stress and hardness reached 56.11 kJ/m2, 54 MPa, 88.02 MPa, and 74 HRR, respectively. This research provided a meaningful strategy for designing highly transparent and self-sterilizing composite materials used in medical industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]