Document Type

Article

Source of Publication

Materials Today Sustainability

Publication Date

12-1-2024

Abstract

Sustainable energy production and effective water pollution control are critical global priorities. Harmful algal blooms (HABs) and waterborne pathogens pose significant threats to water quality and public health, necessitating efficient and eco-friendly treatment methods. Transition metal-based photocatalytic heterojunctions offer promising solutions by leveraging the unique properties of transition metals to enhance photocatalytic efficiency. This review examines recent advances in these heterojunctions employed for algal inhibition and water disinfection, discussing various heterojunction type (including conventional, p-n, Z-scheme, S-scheme, and Schottky heterojunctions), and their synthesis methods. We elucidate the mechanisms involved, highlighting improved electron transfer, reduced recombination rates, and broadened light absorption. Recent studies on their effectiveness in inhibiting harmful algae and disinfecting water are also reviewed. Current challenges and future research directions to optimize these materials are identified. This is a first comprehensive overview focusing on the contributions of transition metals in photocatalytic heterojunctions for water treatment, aiming to support the development of sustainable technologies.

ISSN

2589-2347

Volume

28

Disciplines

Life Sciences

Keywords

Algal blooms, Heterojunctions, Photocatalysis, Transition metals, Water disinfection, Water pollution

Scopus ID

85208993396

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

yes

Open Access Type

Hybrid: This publication is openly available in a subscription-based journal/series

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