Research Progress on Photocatalytic/Photoelectrocatalytic Oxidation of Nitrogen Oxides

Abstract

The emission of nitrogen oxides (NO _x) increases year by year, causing serious problems to our livelihoods. The photocatalytic oxidation of NO _x has attracted more attention recently because of its efficient removal of NO _x, especially for low concentrations of NO _x. In this review, the mechanism of the photocatalytic oxidation of NO _x is described. Then, the recent progress on the development of photocatalysts is reviewed according to the categories of inorganic semiconductors, bismuth-based compounds, nitrogen carbide polymer, and metal organic frameworks (MOFs). In addition, the photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of NO _x, a method involving the application of an external voltage on the photocatalytic system to further increase the removal efficiency of NO _x, and its progress are summarized. Finally, we outline the remaining challenges and provide our perspectives on the future directions for the photocatalytic oxidation of NO _x.

Keywords

NO _x / Photocatalytic / Photoelectrocatalytic / Mechanism / Photocatalyst

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