Recent Progress on Semiconductor Heterogeneous Photocatalysts in Clean Energy Production and Environmental Remediation
Semiconductor-based photocatalytic reactions are a practical class of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) to address energy scarcity and environmental pollution. By utilizing solar energy as a clean, abundant, and renewable source, this process offers numerous advantages, including high efficiency,...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Catalysts |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/13/7/1102 |
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| author | Nahal Goodarzi Zahra Ashrafi-Peyman Elahe Khani Alireza Z. Moshfegh |
| author_facet | Nahal Goodarzi Zahra Ashrafi-Peyman Elahe Khani Alireza Z. Moshfegh |
| author_sort | Nahal Goodarzi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Semiconductor-based photocatalytic reactions are a practical class of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) to address energy scarcity and environmental pollution. By utilizing solar energy as a clean, abundant, and renewable source, this process offers numerous advantages, including high efficiency, eco-friendliness, and low cost. In this review, we present several methods to construct various photocatalyst systems with excellent visible light absorption and efficient charge carrier separation ability through the optimization of materials design and reaction conditions. Then it introduces the fundamentals of photocatalysis in both clean energy generation and environmental remediation. In the other parts, we introduce various approaches to enhance photocatalytic activity by applying different strategies, including semiconductor structure modification (e.g., morphology regulation, co-catalysts decoration, doping, defect engineering, surface sensitization, heterojunction construction) and tuning and optimizing reaction conditions (such as photocatalyst concentration, initial contaminant concentration, pH, reaction temperature, light intensity, charge-carrier scavengers). Then, a comparative study on the photocatalytic performance of the various recently examined photocatalysts applied in both clean energy production and environmental remediation will be discussed. To realize these goals, different photocatalytic reactions including H<sub>2</sub> production via water splitting, CO<sub>2</sub> reduction to value-added products, dye, and drug photodegradation to lessen toxic chemicals, will be presented. Subsequently, we report dual-functional photocatalysis systems for simultaneous energy production and pollutant photodegradation for efficient reactions. Then, a brief discussion about the industrial and economical applications of photocatalysts is described. The report follows by introducing the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning in the design and selection of an innovative photocatalyst in energy and environmental issues. Finally, a summary and future research directions toward developing photocatalytic systems with significantly improved efficiency and stability will be provided. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:13:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e66e6d2d35b84ef8acedb0037f326f7e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4344 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:13:08Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Catalysts |
| spelling | doaj.art-e66e6d2d35b84ef8acedb0037f326f7e2023-11-18T18:44:46ZengMDPI AGCatalysts2073-43442023-07-01137110210.3390/catal13071102Recent Progress on Semiconductor Heterogeneous Photocatalysts in Clean Energy Production and Environmental RemediationNahal Goodarzi0Zahra Ashrafi-Peyman1Elahe Khani2Alireza Z. Moshfegh3Institute for Convergence Science & Technology (ICST), Sharif University of Technology, Tehran P.O. Box 11365-8639, IranDepartment of Physics, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran P.O. Box 11555-9161, IranDepartment of Physics, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran P.O. Box 11555-9161, IranInstitute for Convergence Science & Technology (ICST), Sharif University of Technology, Tehran P.O. Box 11365-8639, IranSemiconductor-based photocatalytic reactions are a practical class of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) to address energy scarcity and environmental pollution. By utilizing solar energy as a clean, abundant, and renewable source, this process offers numerous advantages, including high efficiency, eco-friendliness, and low cost. In this review, we present several methods to construct various photocatalyst systems with excellent visible light absorption and efficient charge carrier separation ability through the optimization of materials design and reaction conditions. Then it introduces the fundamentals of photocatalysis in both clean energy generation and environmental remediation. In the other parts, we introduce various approaches to enhance photocatalytic activity by applying different strategies, including semiconductor structure modification (e.g., morphology regulation, co-catalysts decoration, doping, defect engineering, surface sensitization, heterojunction construction) and tuning and optimizing reaction conditions (such as photocatalyst concentration, initial contaminant concentration, pH, reaction temperature, light intensity, charge-carrier scavengers). Then, a comparative study on the photocatalytic performance of the various recently examined photocatalysts applied in both clean energy production and environmental remediation will be discussed. To realize these goals, different photocatalytic reactions including H<sub>2</sub> production via water splitting, CO<sub>2</sub> reduction to value-added products, dye, and drug photodegradation to lessen toxic chemicals, will be presented. Subsequently, we report dual-functional photocatalysis systems for simultaneous energy production and pollutant photodegradation for efficient reactions. Then, a brief discussion about the industrial and economical applications of photocatalysts is described. The report follows by introducing the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning in the design and selection of an innovative photocatalyst in energy and environmental issues. Finally, a summary and future research directions toward developing photocatalytic systems with significantly improved efficiency and stability will be provided.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/13/7/1102advanced oxidation process (AOPs)semiconductor-based photocatalystsH<sub>2</sub> productionwater splittingCO<sub>2</sub> reductiondye and drug photodegradation |
| spellingShingle | Nahal Goodarzi Zahra Ashrafi-Peyman Elahe Khani Alireza Z. Moshfegh Recent Progress on Semiconductor Heterogeneous Photocatalysts in Clean Energy Production and Environmental Remediation Catalysts advanced oxidation process (AOPs) semiconductor-based photocatalysts H<sub>2</sub> production water splitting CO<sub>2</sub> reduction dye and drug photodegradation |
| title | Recent Progress on Semiconductor Heterogeneous Photocatalysts in Clean Energy Production and Environmental Remediation |
| title_full | Recent Progress on Semiconductor Heterogeneous Photocatalysts in Clean Energy Production and Environmental Remediation |
| title_fullStr | Recent Progress on Semiconductor Heterogeneous Photocatalysts in Clean Energy Production and Environmental Remediation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Recent Progress on Semiconductor Heterogeneous Photocatalysts in Clean Energy Production and Environmental Remediation |
| title_short | Recent Progress on Semiconductor Heterogeneous Photocatalysts in Clean Energy Production and Environmental Remediation |
| title_sort | recent progress on semiconductor heterogeneous photocatalysts in clean energy production and environmental remediation |
| topic | advanced oxidation process (AOPs) semiconductor-based photocatalysts H<sub>2</sub> production water splitting CO<sub>2</sub> reduction dye and drug photodegradation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/13/7/1102 |
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