Application of zeolites in photocatalytic solar-energy conversion: mechanisms, advances, and challenges
Yunfeng Bao1, Peng Zou1, Hailong Liu1
1Interdisciplinary Institute of NMR and Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Hubei Province for Coal Conversion and New Carbon Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, P. R. China. zhenganm@wipm.ac.cn.
Abstract:
Recent studies have increasingly focused on zeolites for photocatalytic solar-energy conversion due to their tunable porosity, robust frameworks, and multifunctional properties. This review systematically explores their structural characteristics, functional mechanisms (charge separation, mass transport regulation, and microenvironment engineering), and applications in hydrogen evolution, CO2 reduction, H2O2 synthesis, N2 fixation, and organic transformations. Emphasis is placed on how zeolitic confinement effects, hierarchical porosity, and acid/base sites synergistically enhance reaction efficiency and selectivity. Current challenges and future prospects for scalable design and cross-scale engineering are outlined.
