Xuejiao Wu, Jonathan Van Waeyenberg, Dario Vangestel, Bert Sels
{"title":"The Overlooked Solvent Effects: Reconsider the Paradigm in Semiconductor Photocatalysis","authors":"Xuejiao Wu, Jonathan Van Waeyenberg, Dario Vangestel, Bert Sels","doi":"10.1039/d4ee04157g","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Semiconductor photocatalysis has seen decades of development, with most attention focused on two key elements: semiconductors Semiconductor photocatalysis has seen decades of development, with most attention focused on two key elements: semiconductors and solutes. However, the third “S” — solvents — which play a crucial role in condensed-phase reactions, has been surprisingly largely overlooked in this field. Despite its significant impact on chemical reactions, solvents have not received the attention they deserve in semiconductor photocatalysis. By reviewing the historical development of this area, we argue that the limitations on solvent selection are becoming increasingly impractical. We explore the fundamental effects solvents have on semiconductor photocatalysis, breaking down their complex influence into three areas: semiconductor properties, interfacial charge transfer, and chemical reactions in the solution. This perspective highlights the urgent need for more comprehensive and systematic research on solvent effects. Although not often the main focus of many studies, several examples are provided to demonstrate the importance of solvent effects. Future research directions are also discussed. Ultimately, this review calls for a rethinking of the current approach to semiconductor photocatalysis, stressing the critical role of solvents.","PeriodicalId":72,"journal":{"name":"Energy & Environmental Science","volume":"40 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":32.4000,"publicationDate":"2024-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Energy & Environmental Science","FirstCategoryId":"88","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d4ee04157g","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"CHEMISTRY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY","Score":null,"Total":0}
The Overlooked Solvent Effects: Reconsider the Paradigm in Semiconductor Photocatalysis
Semiconductor photocatalysis has seen decades of development, with most attention focused on two key elements: semiconductors Semiconductor photocatalysis has seen decades of development, with most attention focused on two key elements: semiconductors and solutes. However, the third “S” — solvents — which play a crucial role in condensed-phase reactions, has been surprisingly largely overlooked in this field. Despite its significant impact on chemical reactions, solvents have not received the attention they deserve in semiconductor photocatalysis. By reviewing the historical development of this area, we argue that the limitations on solvent selection are becoming increasingly impractical. We explore the fundamental effects solvents have on semiconductor photocatalysis, breaking down their complex influence into three areas: semiconductor properties, interfacial charge transfer, and chemical reactions in the solution. This perspective highlights the urgent need for more comprehensive and systematic research on solvent effects. Although not often the main focus of many studies, several examples are provided to demonstrate the importance of solvent effects. Future research directions are also discussed. Ultimately, this review calls for a rethinking of the current approach to semiconductor photocatalysis, stressing the critical role of solvents.
期刊介绍:
Energy & Environmental Science, a peer-reviewed scientific journal, publishes original research and review articles covering interdisciplinary topics in the (bio)chemical and (bio)physical sciences, as well as chemical engineering disciplines. Published monthly by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), a not-for-profit publisher, Energy & Environmental Science is recognized as a leading journal. It boasts an impressive impact factor of 8.500 as of 2009, ranking 8th among 140 journals in the category "Chemistry, Multidisciplinary," second among 71 journals in "Energy & Fuels," second among 128 journals in "Engineering, Chemical," and first among 181 scientific journals in "Environmental Sciences."
Energy & Environmental Science publishes various types of articles, including Research Papers (original scientific work), Review Articles, Perspectives, and Minireviews (feature review-type articles of broad interest), Communications (original scientific work of an urgent nature), Opinions (personal, often speculative viewpoints or hypotheses on current topics), and Analysis Articles (in-depth examination of energy-related issues).