Photoexcited Active Radicals for Environmental and Energy Applications: Generation, Regulation, and Dynamic Tracking

Photoexcited reactive radicals play a crucial role in environmental and energy processes, driving reactions such as pollutant degradation and solar energy conversion. Although rapid advances in this area have been achieved, several vital issues still need to be addressed, such as poor selectivity for radical generation, undefined pathways for radical transformation, and inconsistent dynamic detection of photoexcited radicals. This review provides a comprehensive overview of photogenerated reactive radicals in environmental and energy applications. First, the formation and transformation processes of common radicals are summarized, elucidating their key roles in photochemical reactions. Then, the strategies for regulating specific radicals are illustrated, offering insights into their efficient utilization to guide future energy and environmental reactions. Subsequently, it reviews cutting-edge work on dynamic tracking of radicals, including real-time monitoring techniques in complex matrices. Finally, it critically examines existing deficiencies and inaccuracies in radical studies, highlighting the need for more precise detection methods and theoretical frameworks. By providing insights into the relationship between radical selectivity and reaction efficiency, this review offers a comprehensive overview of advances in the diverse aspects of photoexcited radicals, thereby illuminating future opportunities in sustainable chemistry and environmental sciences.