Photocatalytic Synergies: Mechanisms, Enhancement Strategies, and Applications

Abstract

Photocatalytic technology has demonstrated significant advantages in the fields of environmental purification and energy conversion. conventional photocatalysis and its derivative modification methods face persistent challenges in effectively addressing these issues, primarily owing to their inherently wide bandgap energy structures, rapid photogenerated carrier recombination, and inefficient charge migration kinetics. In contrast, photocatalytic synergistic strategies can effectively compensate for the deficiencies of individual processes and significantly enhance overall efficiency. This paper systematically reviews recent advances in multi-field synergistic photocatalysis, encompassing photopiezoelectric, photothermal, photo-enzymatic, photomagnetic, and photo-ultrasonic hybrid systems. The discussion focuses on three key aspects: (1) mechanistic insights into degradation pathways, (2) innovative material modification strategies, and (3) emerging application scenarios. Furthermore, we critically analyze the persisting challenges and future research directions in this interdisciplinary field.