A review on heterogeneous photocatalysis for environmental remediation: From semiconductors to modification strategies

Heterogeneous photocatalysis, an advanced oxidation process, has garnered extensive attention in the field of environmental remediation because it involves the direct utilization of solar energy for the removal of numerous pollutants. However, the application of heterogeneous photocatalysis in environmental remediation has not achieved the expected consequences due to enormous challenges such as low photocatalytic efficiencies and high costs of heterogeneous photocatalysts in large-scale practical applications. Furthermore, pollutants in the natural environment, including water, air, and solid phases, are diverse and complex. Therefore, extensive efforts should be made to better understand and apply heterogeneous photocatalysis for environmental remediation. Herein, the fundamentals of heterogeneous photocatalysis for environmental remediation are introduced. Then, potential semiconductors and their modification strategies for environmental photocatalysis are systematically presented. Finally, conclusions and prospects are briefly summarized, and the direction for the future development of environmental photocatalysis is explored. This review may provide reference directions toward understanding, researching, and designing photocatalytic remediation systems for various environmental pollutants.