About this Research Topic
Photocatalysis holds great promise for energy and environmental applications, but several challenges must be overcome, including limited light absorption, rapid charge carrier recombination, low surface area, and stability issues. Novel materials offer solutions to these problems by enhancing photocatalytic efficiency and stability. Approaches such as doping semiconductor lattices with metal and non-metal elements can reduce charge recombination and increase light absorption. Innovative photocatalysts, including bimetallic and trimetallic semiconductors, layered double hydroxides (LDH), perovskites, and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), improve material recovery and recyclability. MOFs, with their highly porous structures and tunable chemistry, are excellent for CO2 reduction, water splitting, and pollutant degradation. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) also offer high surface area, tunable pore structures, and stability for photocatalysis. MXenes, two-dimensional transition metal carbides, nitrides, or carbonitrides, exhibit excellent electrical conductivity and hydrophilicity. Black phosphorus, with its unique electronic and optical properties, shows promise for water splitting and nitrogen fixation due to its high carrier mobility and anisotropic behavior. Additionally, photocatalytic reactor design is crucial for maximizing light energy utilization, improving quantum yield, and product selectivity. Techniques like parameter optimization are also important for advancing photocatalytic efficiency.
We welcome Original Research, Review, Mini Review and Perspective articles on themes including, but not limited to:
• Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction
• Photocatalytic degradation
• Photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production
• Functional nanomaterials
• Novel structured materials
• Oxides/nitrides/carbides semiconductor materials
• MOF/Perovskites/MXenes/LDH nanomaterials
Keywords: Photocatalysis, Water Splitting, Hydrogen Production, Functional Materials, MXenes, MOFs, COFs, Renewable Fuels, Solar Energy, Structured Materials, Semiconductor
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.