Preface
vii
Heterogeneous Photocatalysis has gained great attention from the scientific community
during the last decades. Mild operating conditions and the potential utilization of
sunlight as a green energy source are two of the main advantages that make this
advanced oxidation process an open and very active research line. Applications
range from new energy vectors production, to environmental remediation as well as
the selective synthesis of chemicals. According to the IUPAC in the “Glossary of
terms used in photochemistry, Pure and Applied Chemistry, 79, 2007, 293-465” a
photocatalytic reaction is defined as a change in the rate of a chemical reaction or its
initiation under the action of ultraviolet, visible or infrared radiation in the presence
of a substance, the photocatalyst, that absorbs light and is involved in the chemical
transformation of the reaction partners”. The definition describes a relatively complex
phenomenon where many parameters must be controlled for an efficient control of
the photoreactions.
This topical collection provides an updated overview of relevant photocatalytic
topics such as novel synthetic protocols of photoactive materials, advanced approaches
for its characterization, critical reviews of traditional applications and modelling of
the light-matter interaction. The collection starts with relevant contributions associated
with novel synthetic protocols in which good control of the chemical, structural,
morphologic and optical properties are achieved. Opportunities of waste-derived
materials and mechanochemical- and ultrasound-assisted protocols to produce
advanced-photocatalytic are presented in contributions 1 to 3. Contribution 4 has
focused on ferrite nanomaterials, including magnetically separable materials, and
their application for solar fuels processes. Characterization of photocatalysts is
shown as a relevant task to understand and optimize the behaviour of the samples.
In this regard, contribution 5 covers an analysis of traditional and advancedcharacterization approaches. Operando and spectro-kinetic methodologies are
reviewed as they would render valuable and trusting results. Two photocatalytic
applications have been analyzed in contributions 6 and 7. Photoproduction of H2 via
formic acid decomposition and wastewater treatments respectively, both with a critical
vii
Heterogeneous Photocatalysis has gained great attention from the scientific community
during the last decades. Mild operating conditions and the potential utilization of
sunlight as a green energy source are two of the main advantages that make this
advanced oxidation process an open and very active research line. Applications
range from new energy vectors production, to environmental remediation as well as
the selective synthesis of chemicals. According to the IUPAC in the “Glossary of
terms used in photochemistry, Pure and Applied Chemistry, 79, 2007, 293-465” a
photocatalytic reaction is defined as a change in the rate of a chemical reaction or its
initiation under the action of ultraviolet, visible or infrared radiation in the presence
of a substance, the photocatalyst, that absorbs light and is involved in the chemical
transformation of the reaction partners”. The definition describes a relatively complex
phenomenon where many parameters must be controlled for an efficient control of
the photoreactions.
This topical collection provides an updated overview of relevant photocatalytic
topics such as novel synthetic protocols of photoactive materials, advanced approaches
for its characterization, critical reviews of traditional applications and modelling of
the light-matter interaction. The collection starts with relevant contributions associated
with novel synthetic protocols in which good control of the chemical, structural,
morphologic and optical properties are achieved. Opportunities of waste-derived
materials and mechanochemical- and ultrasound-assisted protocols to produce
advanced-photocatalytic are presented in contributions 1 to 3. Contribution 4 has
focused on ferrite nanomaterials, including magnetically separable materials, and
their application for solar fuels processes. Characterization of photocatalysts is
shown as a relevant task to understand and optimize the behaviour of the samples.
In this regard, contribution 5 covers an analysis of traditional and advancedcharacterization approaches. Operando and spectro-kinetic methodologies are
reviewed as they would render valuable and trusting results. Two photocatalytic
applications have been analyzed in contributions 6 and 7. Photoproduction of H2 via
formic acid decomposition and wastewater treatments respectively, both with a critical