Issue 33, 2024

Recent advances and perspectives on iron-based photocatalysts

Abstract

Global warming caused by the overuse of non-renewable fossil energy has resulted in serious global energy and environmental issues, including resource scarcity, melting glaciers, fires and locust plague. Accordingly, the design and development of high-performance, earth-abundant, non-toxic and cost-effective photocatalysts to realize solar energy conversion, organic pollutant degradation, carbon dioxide reduction and hydrogen production are considered the most effective methods to resolve both the energy and environmental crises. Iron is the second most abundant metal (5.0%) on Earth and has been extensively introduced in photocatalytic reactions to improve the generation, separation and utilization efficiency of charge carriers owing to its suitable band gap, redox position and low redox overpotential. Thus, iron-based photocatalysts have gained prominence as viable candidates owing to their abundance, eco-friendliness and exceptional photocatalytic performance. This critical review delves into the recent advances in the design of iron-based nanomaterials. Initially, we present an overview of the recent advancements in the design of iron-based heterojunctions (type II, Z-scheme, and S-scheme heterojunctions). Subsequently, we thoroughly summarize the application of iron-based photocatalysts in oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions, carbon dioxide conversion and nitrogen fixation. Finally, we outline the future perspectives for the improvement of next-generation iron-based photocatalysts.

Graphical abstract: Recent advances and perspectives on iron-based photocatalysts

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
17 3 2024
Accepted
12 7 2024
First published
17 7 2024

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2024,12, 12653-12691

Recent advances and perspectives on iron-based photocatalysts

N. Arif, M. N. Zafar, M. Batool, M. Humayun, M. A. Iqbal, M. Younis, L. Li, K. Li and Y. Zeng, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2024, 12, 12653 DOI: 10.1039/D4TC01062K

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements