Photocatalytic Applications of Two-Dimensional Materials
Summary
Two-dimensional (2D) materials have emerged as leading candidates in photocatalysis owing to their atomic thickness, expansive surface area and tunable electronic structures. By virtue of quantum confinement and abundant reactive edge sites, these ultrathin semiconductors can harvest sunlight, generate electron–hole pairs and drive redox reactions with enhanced efficiency. Common 2D photocatalysts include graphene derivatives, transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), graphitic carbon nitride and emerging MXenes. Strategies to augment performance focus on band-gap engineering through doping, defect introduction and surface functionalisation, as well as construction of face-to-face heterostructures that promote charge separation and prolong carrier lifetimes. These advances underpin applications in solar-driven water splitting for hydrogen production, carbon dioxide reduction to value-added fuels, photodegradation of organic pollutants and co-evolution of hydrogen peroxide. Practical realisations hinge on scalable synthesis, long-term photostability and integration into photoreactor systems. Collectively, the development of robust 2D photocatalysts promises a viable route to decarbonise energy production and mitigate environmental contamination.
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Photocatalytic Applications of Two-Dimensional Materials publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in photocatalytic applications of two-dimensional materials across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Two-dimensional materials: Crystalline solids consisting of one or a few atomic layers, displaying unique electronic, optical and chemical properties distinct from their bulk forms.
Photocatalysis: A light-driven catalytic process in which photon absorption by a semiconductor generates electron–hole pairs that initiate redox reactions on its surface.
Heterostructure: A composite assembly of two or more different semiconducting materials joined at an interface to improve charge separation and tailor band-alignment.
Charge carrier recombination: The process by which photogenerated electrons and holes recombine without performing chemical work, limiting photocatalytic efficiency.
References
- 2D/2D Graphitic Carbon Nitride (g-C3N4) Heterojunction Nanocomposites for Photocatalysis: Why Does Face-to-Face Interface Matter?. Frontiers in Materials (2017).
- 2D/2D Heterojunctions for Catalysis. Advanced Science (2019).
- 2D materials and their heterostructures for photocatalytic water splitting and conversion of CO2 to value chemicals and fuels. Journal of Physics Energy (2021).
- Principles, applications and future prospects in photodegradation systems. Nanotechnology Reviews (2025).
- Solar‐driven co‐evolution of H2 and H2O2 from pure water splitting over emerging photocatalysts: Detailed mechanism and future outlook. PhotoMat (2023).
- Two-Dimensional Photocatalysts for Energy and Environmental Applications. Solar (2022).
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