PARTICULATE MODELS IN HETEROGENEOUS PHOTOCATALYSIS

Heterogeneous photocatalysis provides means to produce fuels/chemicals at the expense of solar energy. The development and application aspec ts of various semiconductor particulate models in heterogeneous photoc atalysis constituted primarily the common aim of achieving efficient c harge separation. In this article, the electron and energy transfer pr ocesses associated with these particulate models have been discussed a nd the experimental performance of the systems constructed based upon these models have been contrasted in the light of the more efficient a nd simpler systems. The potential of the semiconductor catalysts for w ater decomposition, hydrogen evolution from H2S/sulphidic media, fixat ion of nitrogen and carbondioxide reduction has been highlighted. The entry of nanosize semiconductor photocatalysts in heterogeneous photoc atalysis has been addressed. The important areas of applications of ph otocatalysis in organic synthesis, pollution treatment, area-selective reactions to generate light images and metallic patterns have also be en incorporated in this review.