Piezocatalysis and Piezo-Assisted Catalysis in Environmental Remediation and Energy Conversion

Abstract

A sustainable future relies on the development of advanced catalyst materials through exploring their quantum-level mechanisms and integrating multiple catalytic effects to achieve optimal performance. Piezocatalysis and piezo-assisted catalysis have recently emerged as promising catalytic strategies based on the piezo effect, which enables the conversion of mechanical energy and thermal fluctuation into chemical energy. In these systems, piezoelectric materials effectively transform mechanical deformation into an intrinsic polarization field, which facilitates charge carrier separation and migration, suppresses recombination, and thereby enhances catalytic activity. These unique advantages have demonstrated great potential for constructing high-performance and cost-effective catalytic platforms for sustainable energy conversion and environmental remediation. In this Feature Article, we comprehensively summarize recent progress in piezocatalysis and piezo-assisted catalysis, with a particular focus on our research contributions alongside related advances in the field. We systematically discuss charge transfer behaviors and catalytic mechanisms in piezocatalysis, piezo-photocatalysis, as well as ferroelectric- and pyroelectric-assisted multifunctional catalysis, with representative applications in hydrogen generation, CO2-to-fuel conversion, and the production of H2O2 and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). Furthermore, we highlight the development of novel piezocatalysts and hybrid catalyst systems for integrated catalysis. Finally, we propose future perspectives on the integration of piezocatalysis with other polarization-based catalytic strategies to expand their applicability and accelerate their practical deployment.