Recent advancements in the use of novel piezoelectric materials for piezocatalytic and piezo-photocatalytic applications

Piezocatalysis has gradually attracted the interest of researchers owing to their excellent ability to improve the separation and migration of photoelectrons and holes. The alternating built-in electric field generated by the piezoelectric effect of traditional piezoelectric materials, such as BaTiO3, ZnO, provides a strong driving force for the separation and migration of carriers. In addition to traditional piezoelectric materials, certain unique materials, such as layered transition metal dichalcogenides, bismuth-layered structure materials, wurtzite-based semiconductors, graphene, g-C3N4, and metal-organic frameworks, have piezoelectric properties and are considered novel piezocatalysts. This review summarizes the recent advancements in the use of these novel piezoelectric materials for piezocatalytic and piezo-photocatalytic applications. Their discovery, the verification of piezoelectric features, the current research status, challenges, and perspectives for developing novel piezocatalysts are summarized. This review is expected to provide comprehensive guidance for the in-depth understanding and development of more novel piezocatalysts in emerging energy and environmental applications.