The challenge and opportunity of organic semiconductors in photocatalysis

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Contributors

Abstract

Employing organic semiconductors to drive photocatalytic processes for chemical fuel production and pollutandegradation is a viable pathway for tackling the energy crisis and environmental pollution. In this review, wsummarize the development of organic semiconductor photocatalysis so far and propose the future vision oorganic semiconductors as state-of-the-art photocatalysts in practical applications. Compared to inorganisemiconductors, organic semiconductors display a large absorption coefficient and easily tunable topological anelectronic structures, which set them apart from ordinary inorganic photocatalysts. However, the chemicinstability, high exciton dissociation energy and low charge carrier mobility of organic semiconductors are thmajor obstacles to the improvement of their photocatalytic activity. Obviously, the opportunity and challengcoexist in the development of organic semiconductor photocatalysis. In light of this, we systematically compare thmerits and shortcomings of organic semiconductors for heterogeneous photocatalysis and enumerate somfeasible approaches to overcoming the bottlenecks hindering their photocatalytic performance. By carefullconsidering factors such as conjugated linkage types, building blocks, and electron donor-acceptor structurehighly reactive and stable organic semiconductor photocatalysts can be developed.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number2025070
JournalMicrostructures
Volume5
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2025
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • charge carrier transport, chemical stability, exciton dissociation and diffusion, heterogeneous photocatalysis, Organic semiconductors