Semiconducting piezoelectric heterostructures for piezo- and piezophotocatalysis

Piezoelectric semiconductors can be polarized and used in mechanoredox systems and photoredox catalysis. Conventional non-piezoelectric semiconductors have limitations when it comes to charge carrier recombination and slow transport rates in catalytic reactions, which can be overcome by piezoelectric polarization processes in piezoelectric semiconductors. Heterostructures based on semiconducting piezoelectrics often offer enhanced catalytic reactivities that are related to their mechanical, piezoelectric, optical, and electronic characteristics. We review how to use such heterostructures to convert mechanical energy into chemical energy, and how the related piezoelectric polarization tunes the band structures and provides advantages in piezophotocatalysis over regular photocatalysis. We discuss fundamental concepts of piezoelectricity, piezoelectric potential, and examine different piezoelectric heterostructures for piezoand piezophotocatalysis. A review of dynamic investigations of piezoand piezophotocatalytic processes is presented. The complementary developments in the understanding of the piezotronic and piezophototronic effects are described, which include the induced charge-transfer mechanisms for piezoand piezophotocatalytic reactions that can occur with piezoelectric heterostructures. Finally, we derive design principles and suggest future research directions in the emerging field of piezoand piezophotocatalysis employing semiconductive heterostructures.

Automated summary

This article reviews the application of piezoelectric semiconductors in mechanoredox systems and photoredox catalysis, focusing on the advantages of piezoelectric heterostructures in converting mechanical energy into chemical energy and enhancing catalytic reactivity. The fundamental concepts of piezoelectricity and piezoelectric potential are discussed, and the mechanisms of various piezoelectric heterostructures in piezoand piezophotocatalysis are examined. The article also provides a summary of dynamic investigations into piezoand piezophotocatalytic processes and the development of piezotronic and piezophototronic effects. Design principles and future research directions in the field of piezoand piezophotocatalysis employing semiconductive heterostructures are derived.