Fundamentals of photocatalysis: The role of the photocatalysts in heterogeneous photo-assisted reactions

Abstract

This chapter provides some general definitions of heterogeneous photocatalysis and evaluates its performance, which is influenced by the parameters most closely related to the properties of the solid material that acts as a photocatalyst. It also discusses aspects of heterogeneous photocatalytic reactions and explains the properties that influence photoactivity. Finally, the chapter examines thermodynamic and kinetic features, including mechanistic details and parameters to define the reaction rate and correlates them to the effects of the interaction of light with the photocatalyst surface and adsorption-desorption of species involved in heterogeneous photo-assisted reactions.