%A Xin Li, Jun Xie, Chuanjia Jiang, Jiaguo Yu, Pengyi Zhang %T Review on design and evaluation of environmental photocatalysts %0 Journal Article %D 2018 %J Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. %J Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering %@ 2095-2201 %R 10.1007/s11783-018-1076-1 %P 14- %V 12 %N 5 %U {https://journal.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/10.1007/s11783-018-1076-1 %8 2018-12-15 %X

Fundamentals on the photocatalytic degradation were systematically summarized.

Charge carrier dynamics for the photocatalytic degradation were reviewed.

Adsorption and photodegradation kinetics of reactants were highlighted.

The mechanism aspects, including O2 reduction, reactive oxidation species and key intermediates were also addressed.

Selectivity and stability of semiconductors for photodegradation were clarified.

Heterogeneous photocatalysis has long been considered to be one of the most promising approaches to tackling the myriad environmental issues. However, there are still many challenges for designing efficient and cost-effective photocatalysts and photocatalytic degradation systems for application in practical environmental remediation. In this review, we first systematically introduced the fundamental principles on the photocatalytic pollutant degradation. Then, the important considerations in the design of photocatalytic degradation systems are carefully addressed, including charge carrier dynamics, catalytic selectivity, photocatalyst stability, pollutant adsorption and photodegradation kinetics. Especially, the underlying mechanisms are thoroughly reviewed, including investigation of oxygen reduction properties and identification of reactive oxygen species and key intermediates. This review in environmental photocatalysis may inspire exciting new directions and methods for designing, fabricating and evaluating photocatalytic degradation systems for better environmental remediation and possibly other relevant fields, such as photocatalytic disinfection, water oxidation, and selective organic transformations.