Recent research progress on perylene diimide-based photocatalytic materials

Perylene diimide (PDI) is an organic semiconductor with outstanding optical and electronic properties, including a rigid π-conjugated structure, high electron affinity, and chemical stability, which have garnered significant attention in the field of photocatalysis. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in PDI-based photocatalytic materials, focusing on their structural characteristics and photocatalytic mechanisms. Despite their promise, PDI-based materials face challenges in practical applications, such as poor light absorption and high charge recombination rates. To address these issues, several strategies have been developed to enhance their photocatalytic performance, including the molecular design of various PDI polymer systems, the incorporation of co-catalysts to boost activity, the construction of heterostructures, synergistic Fenton reactions, and carbon-coupled PDI supramolecular photocatalysts. These approaches have led to significant improvements in the stability and efficiency of PDI-based photocatalysts. These approaches have led to significant improvements in the stability and efficiency of PDI-based photocatalysts. In practical applications, PDI-based materials show great potential in critical areas such as photocatalytic sterilization, environmental pollutant degradation, water splitting for hydrogen production, CO₂ reduction to renewable fuels, nitrogen fixation, and cancer treatment. These applications highlight the vast potential of PDI-based materials in both environmental remediation and renewable energy development. Finally, the review discusses future research directions, emphasizing the need for rational molecular design, optimization of heterostructure, and the development of novel composite materials as key strategies to further enhance performance. With continued research and development, PDI-based photocatalysts are poised to become a key technology in tackling global challenges such as energy shortages and environmental pollution.