Recent advances in photocatalytic decomposition of water and pollutants for sustainable application

Photoinduced reduction and oxidation, the important processes in photocatalytic water splitting and organic degradation, have generated increasing interest to address the energy and environmental issues. In this review, the recent developments in bandgap and interfacial engineering for enhanced light absorption, efficient charge separation and interfacial reaction are focused toward the applications in photocatalytic water splitting and organic degradation. In photoinduced reduction for hydrogen evolution, three major strategies are discussed: cocatalysts, sacrificial agents and heterojunctions. In photoinduced oxidation for organic degradation, three types of emerging pollutants of current concerns are highlighted: organic dyes, pharmaceuticals and volatile organic compounds. The key challenges of promising photocatalysts are discussed for future development and practical application. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Photoinduced reduction and oxidation play important roles in photocatalytic water splitting and organic degradation, attracting increasing interest in recent years. Focus is placed on enhanced light absorption, efficient charge separation, and interfacial reaction through bandgap and interfacial engineering. Key strategies for hydrogen evolution and degradation of emerging pollutants are discussed in this review.