Photocatalysis on TiO{sub 2} surfaces: Principles, mechanisms, and selected results

Journal Article · Mon May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995 · Chemical Reviews

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/cr00035a013· OSTI ID:69981

Linsebigler, A L; Lu, G; Yates, Jr, J T ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Pittsburgh, PA (United States)

In 1972, Fujishima and Honda discovered the photocatalytic splitting of water on TiO{sub 2} electrodes. This event marked the beginning of a new era in heterogeneous photocatalysis. Since then, research efforts in understanding the fundamental processes and in enhancing the photocatalytic efficiency of TiO{sub 2} have come from extensive research performed by chemists, physicists, and chemical engineers. Such studies are often related to energy renewal and energy storage. In recent years, applications to environmental cleanup have been one of the most active areas in heterogeneous photocatalysis. This is inspired by the potential application of TiO{sub 2}-based photocatalysts for the total destruction of organic compounds in polluted air and wastewaters. There exists a vast body of literature dealing with the electron transfer and energy transfer processes in photocatalytic reactions. A detailed description of these processes is beyond the scope of this review. Here, the authors tend to focus on interfacial processes and to summarize some of the operating principles of heterogeneous photocatalysis. In section 2, the authors first look at the electronic excitation processes in a molecule and in a semiconductor substrate. The electronic interaction between the adsorbate molecule and the catalyst substrate is discussed in terms of the catalyzed or sensitized photoreactions. In section 3, thermal and photocatalytic studies on TiO{sub 2} are summarized with emphasis on the common characteristics and fundamental principles of the TiO{sub 2}-based photocatalysis systems. In section 4, they address the research effort in the electronic modification of the semiconductor catalysts and its effect on the photocatalytic efficiency. Several representative examples will be presented including the Schottky barrier formation and modification at metal-semiconductor interfaces. Some concluding remarks and future research directions will be given in the final section. 160 refs.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 69981
• Journal Information: Chemical Reviews, Vol. 95, Issue 3; Other Information: PBD: May 1995
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

40 CHEMISTRY
14 SOLAR ENERGY
TITANIUM OXIDES
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
PHOTOCHEMISTRY
REVIEWS
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
PHOTOLYSIS
HETEROGENEOUS CATALYSIS
REMEDIAL ACTION
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE
ELECTRON TRANSFER
CHEMISORPTION
REDUCTION
DECOMPOSITION
OXIDATION
CORROSION
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS