Particulate models in heterogeneous photocatalysis

Abstract

Heterogeneous photocatalysis provides means to produce fuels/chemicals at the expense of solar energy. The development and application aspects of various semiconductor particulate models in hetero-geneous photocatalysis constituted primarily the common aim of achieving efficient charge separation. In this article, the electron and energy transfer processes associated with these particulate models have been discussed and the experimental performance of the systems constructed based upon these models have been contrasted in the light of the more efficient and simpler systems. The potential of the semiconductor catalysts for water decomposition, hydrogen evolution from H1S/sulphidic media, fixation of nitrogen and carbondioxide reduction. has been highlighted. The entry of nanosize semi-conductor photocatalysts in heterogeneous photocatalysis has been addressed. The important areas of applications of photocatalysis in organic synthesis, pollution treatment, area-selective reactions to generate light images and metallic patterns have also been incorporated in this review.