Photoelectrocatalytic advanced oxidation of dyes and pharmaceuticals: a comprehensive review of electrode materials, reactor designs, mechanisms and influencing parameters

Abstract

Water pollution is a significant environmental concern that necessitates the development of effective treatment techniques to mitigate the adverse impacts of water pollution on human health and ecosystems. To effectively tackle the water pollution caused by dyes, pharmaceuticals and other organic pollutants, researchers are continuously developing new technologies for wastewater treatment. This review offers a complete understanding of the fundamental principles of Photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) degradation, design strategies for photocatalysts and reactors, mechanism for the formation of reactive species, and mechanism for the degradation of target pollutants. The strategies for enhancing the performance of photoelectrocatalyts, such as doping, heterojunction formation, and morphology control, are discussed. Additionally, this review addresses the toxicity assessment of treated effluents and discusses the current challenges, including inferior material stability, limited visible-light absorption, and impediments in large-scale implementation. Finally, the factors influencing the PEC degradation of dyes and pharmaceuticals are discussed. This review will provide a roadmap for environmental researchers working in water sustainability departments to effectively design and develop new photoelectrodes and photoelectrocatalytic reactors (PECRs) to efficiently tackle water pollution.