Recent advances in piezo-photocatalytic heterojunctions for energy and environmental applications

Photocatalysis, an advanced oxidation process, has been widely used in energy and environmental restoration, though its efficiency is limited by the rapid recombination of photon-generated hole-electron pairs. Emerging piezo catalysis, which converts mechanical energy into chemical energy, offers significant potential to enhance photocatalytic performance. Piezo-photocatalysis combines the advantages of both processes, using the piezoelectric effect to generate an internal electric field that improves charge segregation efficiency. This comprehensive review examines the fundamental principles and mechanisms of piezo-photocatalysis and the various synthetic methods used to create piezo-photocatalytic heterojunctions. It also provides an in-depth analysis of the current research progress and status of piezo-photocatalytic heterojunction materials. Highlighting the significant potential of piezo-photocatalysts in wastewater treatment, hydrogen production, CO₂ reduction and N₂ fixation, this review addresses current challenges and future prospects, aiming to guide the development of efficient, advanced, and sustainable piezo-photocatalytic systems for environmental remediation and other applications.