Environmental Catalysis Driven by External Physical Fields: A Review of Electric, Magnetic, and Microwave Effects

Abstract

This review summarizes advances in electric-, magnetic-, and microwave-field-assisted catalysis for gaseous pollutant removal. Conventional thermally driven catalytic processes, typically relying on resistive heating, are limited by suboptimal energy efficiency, slow heating rates, and non-uniform temperature distribution, which collectively constrain catalytic performance. In response to these limitations, externally applied physical fields have emerged as promising strategies to enhance catalytic efficiency. These fields enable rapid and volumetric energy transfer through mechanisms such as Joule heating, magnetothermal effects, and microwave irradiation, thereby reducing energy consumption and shortening startup times. Beyond thermal effects, externally applied fields also induce non-thermal interactions that modify the electronic structure of catalysts, facilitating reactant adsorption and activation while lowering reaction energy barriers. As a result, these synergistic thermal and non-thermal effects contribute to enhanced low-temperature catalytic activity, a broader operating temperature window, and improved resistance to catalyst deactivation. Accordingly, this review systematically summarizes recent advances in field-assisted catalysis, with particular emphasis on both mechanistic insights and practical applications in pollutant degradation. It also discusses the current challenges and future opportunities in this field, providing valuable perspectives for the development of energy-efficient environmental remediation technologies and sustainable energy conversion systems.