The fabrication and implementation of floating photocatalyst in water remediation and energy production: A review

The efficiency of solar photocatalysis is reduced by the limited light-harvesting and access to air because of the sinking of photocatalysts in aqueous media. To achieve superior photocatalytic efficiency in wastewater treatment, two fundamental factors are required: exposure to light sources and the presence of oxygen. Recent advancements in this field include the development of photocatalysts that can be immobilized onto buoyant substrates to form floating composite photocatalysts. These photocatalysts are an attractive option for wastewater treatment due to their ability to utilize full solar irradiation of non-oxygenated and non-stirred reservoirs. In recent decades, there has been considerable interest in floating photocatalysts, leading to significant advancements. This paper emphasizes the logical design and manufacturing strategy for floating photocatalysts, whether immobilized on various lightweight substrates or existing as self-floating photocatalysts. The distinctive features and in-depth comprehension of the photocatalytic mechanism in floating photocatalysts are succinctly summarized and extensively discussed. Furthermore, future research endeavors will concentrate on designing and optimizing highly efficient, broad-spectrum response floating photocatalysts to enhance the utilization of solar energy. From an application viewpoint, floating photocatalysts demonstrate tangible benefits in natural environments and warrant considerable attention

کلیدواژه ها:

Floating photocatalyst ، Wastewater treatment ، Lightweight substrate ، Solar light