Issue 19, 2014

Thermodynamic and kinetic analysis of heterogeneous photocatalysis for semiconductor systems

Abstract

Since the report of the Honda–Fujishima effect, heterogeneous photocatalysis has attracted much attention around the world because of its potential energy and environmental applications. Although great progresses have been made in recent years, most were focused on preparing highly-active photocatalysts and investigating visible light utilization. In fact, we are still unclear on the thermodynamic and kinetic nature of photocatalysis to date, which sometimes leads to misunderstandings for experimental results. It is timely to give a review and discussion on the thermodynamics and kinetics of photocatalysis, so as to direct future researches. However, there is an absence of a detailed review on this topic until now. In this article, we tried to review and discuss the thermodynamics and kinetics of photocatalysis. We explained the thermodynamic driving force of photocatalysis, and distinguished the functions of light and heat in photocatalysis. The Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetic model, the ˙OH oxidation mechanism, and the direct–indirect (D–I) kinetic model were reviewed and compared. Some applications of the D–I model to study photocatalytic kinetics were also discussed. The electron transport mode and its importance in photocatalysis were investigated. Finally, the intrinsic relation between the kinetics and the thermodynamics of photocatalytic reactions was discussed.

Graphical abstract: Thermodynamic and kinetic analysis of heterogeneous photocatalysis for semiconductor systems

Article information

Article type
Perspective
Submitted
18 Dec 2013
Accepted
06 Feb 2014
First published
28 Mar 2014

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2014,16, 8751-8760

Thermodynamic and kinetic analysis of heterogeneous photocatalysis for semiconductor systems

B. Liu, X. Zhao, C. Terashima, A. Fujishima and K. Nakata, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2014, 16, 8751 DOI: 10.1039/C3CP55317E

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements