Fostering a sustainable future: Unlocking the potential of photocatalytic cement-based materials for water purification

An inadequate supply of clean water remains one of the greatest problems to the sustainability of modern society. Owing to the inherent immobilization properties of cement-based materials and energy-saving features of photocatalysts, photocatalytic cement-based materials combining both have emerged as a potential platform for sustainable water purification without compromising mechanical performance under light irradiation. The current review exclusively summarizes the existing information on photocatalytic cement-based materials for sustainable water purification. First, the mechanisms (binding and purification) and the material classifications (cement-based materials and photocatalysts) were introduced. Second, the two main fabrication strategies (internal mixing and external coating) and three key performances (mechanical, photocatalytic, and durability properties) were demonstrated. Third, the material-related and environment-related impact were discussed. It is concluded that the research domain involving photocatalytic cement-based materials for sustainable water purification is in its initial phases, emphasizing the need for increased research attention to both laboratory exploration and pilot- or large-scale applications.