Metal/Semiconductor Nanocomposites for Photocatalysis: Fundamentals, Structures, Applications and Properties

• Main Authors: Yong-sheng Fu, Jun Li, Jianguo Li
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-03-01
• Series: Nanomaterials
• Subjects: nanocomposite photocatalyst; environmental remediation; selective organic transformation; hydrogen evolution; disinfection
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/9/3/359

Due to the capability of utilizing light energy to drive chemical reactions, photocatalysis has been widely accepted as a green technology to help us address the increasingly severe environment and energy issues facing human society. To date, a large amount of research has been devoted to enhancing the properties of photocatalysts. As reported, coupling semiconductors with metals is one of the most effective methods to achieve high-performance photocatalysts. The excellent properties of metal/semiconductor (M/S) nanocomposite photocatalysts originate in two aspects: (i) improved charge separation at the metal-semiconductor interface; and (ii) increased absorption of visible light due to the surface plasmon resonance of metals. So far, many M/S nanocomposite photocatalysts with different structures have been developed for the application in environmental remediation, selective organic transformation, hydrogen evolution, and disinfection. Herein, we will give a review on the M/S nanocomposite photocatalysts, regarding their fundamentals, structures (as well as their typical synthetic approaches), applications and properties. Finally, we will also present our perspective on the future development of M/S nanocomposite photocatalysts.