Advances in photothermal catalysis for air pollutants

The elimination of air pollutants has garnered significant attention, particularly due to the strengthening of environmental protection. Photothermal catalysis (PTC) blends effective thermal catalysis with green photocatalysis, thus offering a remarkably eco-friendly approach to air pollutant treatment. Consequently, it has become a prominent and active research topic. The objective of this review is to offer a comprehensive analysis of the origins, advancements, recent developments in PTC, along with an exploration of its potential use cases. Concerning the activation energy source and the nature of catalytic action, PTC can be classified into three specific categories: light-assisted thermocatalysis, heat-assisted photocatalysis, and light-driven thermocoupled catalysis. This review methodically explores the catalytic mechanisms involved in each type. Furthermore, this review presents strategies for the design of exceptional photothermal catalysts, discusses the current challenges facing this field, and points out future research directions.