Achievements and Trends in Photoelectrocatalysis: from Environmental to Energy Applications

The great versatility of semiconductor materials and the possibility of generation of electrons, holes, hydroxyl radicals, and/or superoxide radicals have increased the applicability of photoelectrocatalysis dramatically in the contemporary world. Photoelectrocatalysis takes advantage of the heterogeneous photocatalytic process by applying a biased potential on a photoelectrode in which the catalyst is supported. This configuration allows more effectiveness of the separation of photogenerated charges due to light irradiation with energy being higher compared to that of the band gap energy of the semiconductor, which thereby leads to an increase in the lifetime of the electron-hole pairs. This work presents a compiled and critical review of photoelectrocatalysis, trends and future prospects of the technique applied in environmental protection studies, hydrogen generation, and water disinfection. Special attention will be focused on the applications of TiO₂ and the production of nanometric morphologies with a great improvement in the photocatalyst properties useful for the degradation of organic pollutants, the reduction of inorganic contaminants, the conversion of CO₂, microorganism inactivation, and water splitting for hydrogen generation.