A Critical Review on Energy Conversion and Environmental Remediation of Photocatalysts with Remodeling Crystal Lattice, Surface, and Interface

Solar energy is a renewable resource that can supply our energy needs in the long term. A semiconductor photocatalysis that is capable of utilizing solar energy has appealed to considerable interests for recent decades, owing to the ability to aim at environmental problems and produce renewal energy. Much effort has been put into the synthesis of a highly efficient semiconductor photocatalyst to promote its real application potential. Hence, we reviewed the most advanced methods and strategies in terms of (i) broadening the light absorption wavelengths, (ii) design of active reaction sites, and (iii) control of the electron-hole (e(-)-h(+)) recombination, while these three processes could be influenced by remodeling the crystal lattice, surface, and interface. Additionally, we individually examined their current applications in energy conversion (i.e., hydrogen evolution, CO2 reduction, nitrogen fixation, and oriented synthesis) and environmental remediation (i.e., air purification and wastewater treatment). Overall, in this review, we particularly focused on advanced photocatalytic activity with simultaneous wastewater decontamination and energy conversion and further enriched the mechanism by proposing the electron flow and substance conversion. Finally, this review offers the prospects of semiconductor photocatalysts in the following three vital (distinct) aspects: (i) the large-scale preparation of highly efficient photocatalysts, (ii) the development of sustainable photocatalysis systems, and (iii) the optimization of the photocatalytic process for practical application.