A review on photocatalytic materials: synthesis strategies, morphology, and mechanisms
6 affiliations
- 1Department of Physics, Rajdhani College, University of Delhi Delhi-110015 India
- 2Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU) Riyadh 11623 Saudi Arabia
- 3Department of Chemistry, Pondicherry University Puducherry – 605 014 India
- 4Department of Chemistry, Rajdhani College, University of Delhi Delhi 110015 India
- 5Department of Physics, Amity School of Applied Sciences, Amity University Haryana 122413 India
- 6Department of Physics, Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology Sonipat 131039 India
Abstract
Photocatalysis is a promising approach for solar energy conversion and environmental remediation. Despite extensive research, advances in photocatalytic materials remain limited. Many reported performance improvements rely on empirical optimization rather than a clear mechanistic understanding. Existing reviews mainly focus on material classification and performance. However, they rarely examine how synthesis strategies control structure, defects, and charge-transfer behavior in a reproducible manner. This concept-driven critical review addresses these limitations by examining how synthesis methods influence structural evolution and charge carrier dynamics in photocatalytic materials. Rather than summarizing material types and applications, the review focuses on the role of crystallinity, defect chemistry, morphology, and interfacial properties in determining photocatalytic performance. Advanced architectures, including hierarchical structures and Z- & S-scheme heterojunctions, are assessed to understand the actual origin of their enhanced photocatalytic performance. In addition, the review highlights important issues related to mechanistic validation and inconsistent performance reporting that are often overlooked in conventional reviews. This review integrates synthesis strategies, charge-transfer mechanisms, and performance evaluation approaches to provide practical strategies for designing efficient, stable, and scalable photocatalytic materials for environmental and energy-related applications.
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BibTeX
@article{korpal2026review,
title = {{A review on photocatalytic materials: synthesis strategies, morphology, and mechanisms}},
author = {Smita Korpal and Mohamed A. Habib and Jasvir Dalal and Pounraj Thanasekaran and Pawan Kumar and Supreet and Supriya Sehrawat and Ahmed B. M. Ibrahim},
journal = {Nanoscale Advances},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1039/d6na00157b},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1039/d6na00157b},
note = {CC BY 3.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - A review on photocatalytic materials: synthesis strategies, morphology, and mechanisms
AU - Smita Korpal
AU - Mohamed A. Habib
AU - Jasvir Dalal
AU - Pounraj Thanasekaran
AU - Pawan Kumar
AU - Supreet
AU - Supriya Sehrawat
AU - Ahmed B. M. Ibrahim
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/01
JO - Nanoscale Advances
DO - 10.1039/d6na00157b
UR - https://doi.org/10.1039/d6na00157b
AB - Photocatalysis is a promising approach for solar energy conversion and environmental remediation. Despite extensive research, advances in photocatalytic materials remain limited. Many reported performance improvements rely on empirical optimization rather than a clear mechanistic understanding. Existing reviews mainly focus on material classification and performance. However, they rarely examine how synthesis strategies control structure, defects, and charge-transfer behavior in a reproducible manner. This concept-driven critical review addresses these limitations by examining how synthesis methods influence structural evolution and charge carrier dynamics in photocatalytic materials. Rather than summarizing material types and applications, the review focuses on the role of crystallinity, defect chemistry, morphology, and interfacial properties in determining photocatalytic performance. Advanced architectures, including hierarchical structures and Z- & S-scheme heterojunctions, are assessed to understand the actual origin of their enhanced photocatalytic performance. In addition, the review highlights important issues related to mechanistic validation and inconsistent performance reporting that are often overlooked in conventional reviews. This review integrates synthesis strategies, charge-transfer mechanisms, and performance evaluation approaches to provide practical strategies for designing efficient, stable, and scalable photocatalytic materials for environmental and energy-related applications.
SN - 2516-0230
ER -