Synthesis, photocatalytic application and future prospect of noble metals modified semiconductors fabricated via photodeposition

In recent years, the energy crisis and environmental pollution have become two major global challenges, necessitating the development of new clean energy sources and technologies to address these issues. Currently, photocatalytic technology has emerged as one of the most promising new technologies. Semiconductor photocatalytic technology mainly involves three processes: light absorption, separation and transport of photogenerated charges, and surface catalytic reactions. To overcome the drawbacks of poor light responsiveness and weak interfacial charge conductivity in traditional semiconductor photocatalysts, noble metals with surface plasma effects are commonly used to enhance semiconductor photocatalytic performance. Noble metals in the field of photocatalysis have the advantages of accelerating electron migration rates, preventing electron-hole pair recombination, and enhancing the utilization efficiency of photogenerated electrons. After modification with loaded noble metals, the photocatalytic efficiency of semiconductors is significantly enhanced. This paper reviews the synthesis and application of noble metals loaded via photochemical deposition in the field of photocatalysis, focusing on the preparation processes, structural characteristics, and their applications and mechanisms in photocatalytic water splitting, pollutant degradation, and CO2 reduction. Finally, the potential applications and prospects of photodeposition technology in noble metal recovery and extraction, single-atom catalyst preparation, biomedicine, and photocatalytic-assisted organic synthesis are proposed, which positively promote the development of photocatalysis field and the circular economy of noble metal resources.