Photocatalysis Within Intrinsic Spontaneous Polarization Electric Field

Fast recombination of charges in bulk or on the surface of semiconductors seriously hinders the conversion efficiency of solar energy due to the inherent challenge of transferring two opposite charges to redox sites separately and simultaneously. Intrinsic spontaneous polarization electric fields (ISPEFs) are considered a promising strategy to solve these challenges, thereby significantly boosting the solar photocatalytic conversion efficiency. In this article, developments for solar energy conversion efficiency under the action of an ISPEF are concluded and reviewed. The key points are the recent research progress on spatial separation and directional transfer under an ISPEF induced by macroscopic, piezoelectric, ferroelectric, and surface or interfacial polarization. Particularly, basic principles of ISPEFs over different types of polarization materials are systematically discussed. Ultimately, future research directions and opportunities for polarization photocatalyst materials with an ISPEF are proposed.