New Insights into the Fundamental Principle of Semiconductor Photocatalysis.

ABSTRACT: Although photocatalysis has been studied for many years as an attractive way to resolve energy and environmental problems, its principle still remains unclear. Some confusions and misunderstandings exist in photocatalytic studies. This research aims to elaborate some new thoughts on the fundamental principle of semiconductor photocatalysis. Starting from the basic laws of thermodynamics, we first defined the thermodynamic potential of photocatalysis. A concept, the Gibbs potential landscape, was thus then proposed to describe the kinetics of photocatalysis. Photocatalysis is therefore defined as a light-driven chemical reaction that still needs heat activation, in that light and heat play their different roles and interact with each other. Photocatalysis should feature an activation energy

SUBMITTER: Liu B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7315598 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature