Heterogeneous photocatalysis by organic materials: from fundamental to applications

Photocatalysis plays an important role in both energy generation and environmental remediation applications. Some of the main challenges in preparing efficient and sustainable photocatalysts are including design of visible light–active photocatalysts with low charge carriers' recombination rate and inexpensive cost as well as reusability. With the aid of organic materials, it is possible to achieve these goals. In this chapter, carbon-based nanomaterials are applied in heterogeneous photocatalysis from different structural dimensionality viewpoint. Four classes of these nanomaterials are considered in this investigation namely 3D graphene hydrogel, 2D graphene (G), graphene oxide (GO), and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), as well as graphitic carbon nitrides (g-C3N4) nanosheets, 1D carbon nanotubes, and 1D carbon nanofibers, and finally 0D carbon-based quantum dots. Several examples on pollutant photodegradation, photocatalytic hydrogen generation, and CO2 reduction to useful chemicals are discussed based on their relevant mechanisms.