Recent advances in structural engineering of photocatalysts for environmental remediation

Photocatalysis appears to be an appealing approach for environmental remediation including pollutants degradation in water, air, and/or soil, due to the utilization of renewable and sustainable source of energy, i.e., solar energy. However, their broad applications remain lagging due to the challenges in pollutant degradation efficiency, large-scale catalyst production, and stability. In recent decades, massive efforts have been devoted to advance the photocatalysis technology for improved environmental remediation. In this review, the latest progress in this aspect is overviewed, particularly, the strategies for improved light sensitivity, charge separation, and hybrid approaches. We also emphasize the low efficiency and poor stability issues with the current photo-catalytic systems. Finally, we provide future suggestions to further enhance the photocatalyst performance and lower its large-scale production cost. This review aims to provide valuable insights into the fundamental science and technical engineering of photocatalysis in environmental remediation.

Automated summary

Photocatalysis is a promising method for environmental remediation, but challenges such as low efficiency, large-scale production, and stability hinder its broad application. Recent efforts have been made to advance the technology, focusing on improving light sensitivity, charge separation, and hybrid approaches. This review provides an overview of the latest progress in the field and emphasizes the current issues of low efficiency and poor stability. Future suggestions are also provided to enhance photocatalyst performance and reduce production costs. This review aims to offer valuable insights into the fundamental science and technical engineering of photocatalysis in environmental remediation.