Direct Z-scheme photocatalysts: Principles, synthesis, and applications

The properly designed semiconductor photocatalysts are promising materials for solving the current serious energy and environmental issues because of their ability of using sunlight to stimulate various photocatalytic reactions. Especially, the constructed direct Z-scheme photocatalysts, mimicking the natural photosynthesis system, possess many merits, including increased light harvesting, spatially separated reductive and oxidative active sites, and well-preserved strong redox ability, which benefit the photocatalytic performance. This review concisely compiles the recent progress in the fabrication, modification, and major applications of the direct Z-scheme photocatalysts; the latter include water splitting, carbon dioxide reduction, degradation of pollutants, and biohazard disinfection. It finishes with a brief presentation of future challenges and prospects in the development of direct Z-scheme photocatalytic systems.