Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2019, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (6): 796-818.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(19)63290-0

• Special Column on the 11th National Conference on Environmental Catalysis and Eco-Materia • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Review on heterophase/homophase junctions for efficient photocatalysis:The case of phase transition construction

Kai Yanga,d, Xiaoxiao Lia, Changlin Yua,b, Debin Zenga, Fanyun Chena, Kailian Zhanga, Weiya Huanga, Hongbing Jic   

  1. a School of Metallurgy and Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, China;
    b Key Laboratory of Petrochemical Pollution Process and Control, Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Maoming 525000, Guangdong, China;
    c School of Chemical Engineering, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Maoming 525000, Guangdong, China
  • Received:2018-11-09 Revised:2018-12-26 Online:2019-06-18 Published:2019-04-26
  • Contact: S1872-2067(19)63290-0
  • Supported by:

    This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21707055, 21567008, 21607064), Program of Qingjiang Excellent Young Talents, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Program of 5511 Talents in Scientific and Technological Innovation of Jiangxi Province (20165BCB18014), Academic and Technical Leaders of the Main Disciplines in Jiangxi Province (20172BCB22018), Jiangxi Province Natural Science Foundation (20161BAB203090, 20181BAB213010, 20181BAB203018), Young Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province Education Office (GJJ160671), and Open Project Program of the State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment (SKLPEE-KF201712) in Fuzhou University.

Abstract:

Semiconductor photocatalysts are extensively applied in environmental treatment and energy conversion. However, one of their major disadvantages is their relatively low photocatalytic performance owing to the recombination of generated electron-hole pairs. The presence of the phase junction is an effective way to promote the photocatalytic activity by increasing the separation efficiency of the electron-hole pairs. Accordingly, extensive research has been conducted on the design of phase junctions of photocatalysts to improve their charge transfer properties and efficiencies. Therefore, for the design of an appropriate phase junction and the understanding of the mechanism of electron-hole separation, the development of the photocatalytic phase junction, including the preparation methods of the heterogeneous materials, is tremendously important and helpful. Herein, the commonly used, externally induced phase transformation fabrication techniques and the primary components of the semiconductors are reviewed. Future directions will still focus on the design and optimization of the phase junction of photocatalytic materials according to the phase transition with higher efficiencies for broadband responses and solar energy utilization. Additionally, the most popular phase transformation fabrication techniques of phase junctions are briefly reviewed from the application viewpoint.

Key words: Phase transformation, Phase junction, Photocatalysis, Efficient charge transfer