Nanomaterials of Carbon and Metal Sulfides in Photocatalysis

Abstract

Heterogeneous semiconductor photocatalysis has received much interest because of its applications in important global energy and environmental challenges in a cost-effective sustainable way. The photocatalytic efficiency of semiconductor photocatalysts under solar irradiation has been pointed out by difficulties associated with low visible-light absorption range, fast recombination of photogenerated carriers, and low chemical stability in operational conditions. Graphitic materials have attracted great interest due to properties, such as high surface area, mechanical strength, and photochemical stability. Thus, their combination with metal sulfides, has been explored as promising strategies to produce new photocatalysts. These nanocomposites show great potential in photodegradation of contaminants of emerging concern (CEC), which might be detected in water sources, such as traces of Pharmaceutics and pesticides. Here, we briefly review fundamental principles photocatalysis in general, with the focus on the use of carbon-nanomaterials of distinct structural dimensionalities associated with nanocrystalline metal sulfides, envisaging their application as heterogeneous photocatalysts for water remediation. Key aspects concerning the photocatalyst properties, such as light absorption, charge separation and transfer, and stability, are also approached. Graphene and graphene derivatives have demonstrated great potential for increasing photogenerated charge-carrier separation and migration efficiency, as well as in extending the light absorption range and adsorption capacity.