Electric effects reinforce charge carrier behaviour for photocatalysis

Abstract

Photocatalysis is a highly efficient method for the conversion of solar energy and has shown great promise in mitigating the growing energy crisis and environmental pollution. However, achieving the desired solar energy conversion efficiency, which is directly limited by complex photoelectronic processes in the generation, transport, dissociation and recombination of charge carriers, is still a great challenge. These behaviors of charge carriers are considered to be dominated by electric effects. In this review, recent advances in the utilization of electric effects (e.g., piezoelectric effect, magnetoresistance effect, and excitonic effect) of charge carriers are discussed in relation to applications in photocatalytic processes. The mechanism of exciton dissociation in photocatalytic processes, the role of a built-in piezoelectric field, and negative magnetoresistance in promoting photoinduced charge transfer and separation are emphasized. This review provides insights into the potential challenges associated with leveraging the electric effects of carriers to reinforce photocatalysis.