Charge transfer in TiO2-based photocatalysis: fundamental mechanisms to material strategies

Abstract

Semiconductor-based photocatalysis has attracted significant interest due to its capacity to directly exploit solar energy and generate solar fuels, including water splitting, CO₂ reduction, pollutant degradation, and bacterial inactivation. However, achieving the maximum efficiency in photocatalytic processes remains a challenge owing to the speedy recombination of electron–hole pairs and the limited use of light. Therefore, significant endeavours have been devoted to addressing these issues. Specifically, well-designed heterojunction photocatalysts have been demonstrated to exhibit enhanced photocatalytic activity through the physical distancing of electron–hole pairs generated during the photocatalytic process. In this review, we provide a systematic discussion ranging from fundamental mechanisms to material strategies, focusing on TiO₂-based heterojunction photocatalysts. Current efforts are focused on developing heterojunction photocatalysts based on TiO₂ for a variety of photocatalytic applications, and these projects are explained and assessed. Finally, we offer a concise summary of the main insights and challenges in the utilization of TiO₂-based heterojunction photocatalysts for photocatalysis. We expect that this review will serve as a valuable resource to improve the efficiency of TiO₂-based heterojunctions for energy generation and environmental remediation.