Perovskite Nanocrystals‐Based Heterostructures: Synthesis Strategies, Interfacial Effects, and Photocatalytic Applications

Abstract

Perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) have recently emerged as a new type of promising photocatalytic semiconductor due to their unique photoelectrochemical properties, including tunable bandgap and crystal structure, entire visible spectral response, and versatile chemical processability. However, under practical circumstance, this type of pure‐phase PNCs photocatalyst demonstrates poor stability, limited light utilization, and high carrier recombination, resulting in low solar power conversion efficiency and inferior catalytic activity. To address these issues, extensive research efforts have been devoted to developing PNCs‐based heterostructures. Thus, a perspective on the development of PNCs‐based heterophotocatalysts is timely. In this Review, the progress of PNCs‐based heterophotocatalysts is presented starting from fundamental properties (i.e., crystal and bandgap structure, photoelectronic properties, etc.) to state‐of‐the‐art applications with a focus on stability improving, dispersion enhancing, and interfacial charge carrier dynamic optimizing. Critical insights are further provided into the existing challenges and prospects for high‐quality PNCs‐based heterostructures in advanced photocatalytic applications.

Halide Perovskite Materials for Photo(Electro)Chemical Applications: Dimensionality, Heterojunction, and Performance

“…Heterostructured materials with two or more functional materials integrated into a single building block can efficiently facilitate the transportation of photogenerated charge carriers from one to another and hinder charge recombination, thus enhancing overall catalytic activity. [101,102] Obviously, the construction of heterojunctions is another common strategy for improving photocatalytic performance via charge transportation modulation, [103][104][105] mainly due to the following contributions: i) broadening the absorption range of light wavelengths; ii) serving as charge acceptor/donor to facilitate photogenerated carrier extraction and transportation; and iii) providing more active sites as a scaffold with large surface areas. According to the alignment of the energy bands at the interface, most studied semiconductor heterojunctions based on halide perovskite materials can be classified into several types: type-I, type-II, Z-scheme (all-solid-state), and S-schemes, as shown in Figure 5a.…”

Rational Design of Metal Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals for Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction: Recent Advances, Challenges, and Prospects

“…To overcome these issues, various strategies have been developed to improve MHPs’ photocatalytic performance for CO 2 reduction in recent years. Although several published reviews have summarized MHP photocatalysts from different perspectives, like the recent achievements, stability issues, various photo­(electro)­catalytic reactions, etc., ,− there is still a lack of a review that focuses on the design of MHP NC-based photocatalysts for photocatalytic CO 2 reduction. Furthermore, most of the photocatalytic systems based on MHP NCs have achieved low catalytic selectivities and conversions, and the scientific communities are concerned about whether the products originate from photocatalytic CO 2 reduction or adventitious contamination.…”

Metal halide perovskites for photocatalysis applications

“…Benefiting from their simple synthesis method and composition engineering, 56–62 strong visible-light-harvesting capacity, 63–65 tunable band-gap, 66–68 long charge-carrier diffusion length, 69–72 low trap densities, 73–75 high charge carrier mobility, 76–78 and appropriate band edge positions, 79 PMs have been highlighted as a potential semiconductor photocatalyst. 80–85 However, the formation enthalpy of PMs is relatively low, making them vulnerable to structural damage under the interference of external conditions, 86–91 such as oxygen, polar solvent, high-temperature environment, and others. This instability seriously limits the wide application of PMs.…”