Electronic structure engineering of silicon carbide-based architectures for water and air remediation: A critical...

Environmental pollution remains an urgent global challenge that threatens ecosystems and human health. Silicon carbide, with its exceptional chemical inertness, excellent thermal conductivity, and highly tunable electronic structure, has emerged as a powerful dual-phase platform for environmental remediation. This paper critically reviews how precise electronic structure engineering unlocks the catalytic potential of silicon carbide architectures across both aqueous and atmospheric environments. In wastewater treatment, strategies such as constructing heterojunctions and single-atom loading are highlighted for their ability to narrow bandgaps, strengthen internal electric fields, and induce hydrogen spillover effects. These modifications successfully overcome the high dissociation energy barriers of recalcitrant contaminants like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. In atmospheric remediation, silicon carbide inherently eliminates thermal runaway during volatile organic compound oxidation and strategically manages temperature-dependent synergistic mechanisms for treating multi-pollutant exhausts. This work meticulously evaluates how complex real-world variables, specifically dynamic pH fluctuations, competitive inorganic anions, and the dual role of moisture, dictate catalytic efficiencies alongside advanced microwave-assisted systems. Furthermore, Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations are integrated to elucidate the atomic-level thermodynamic barriers and site-specific cleavage pathways driving these enhanced performances. Crucially, this review exposes significant gaps in current research, notably the over-reliance on idealized reaction conditions and static theoretical models without operando validation. By bridging these mechanistic insights with real-world complexities, this paper provides a systematic roadmap for transitioning silicon carbide-based catalysts from laboratory concepts to industrially viable environmental purification technologies.