Core-Shell Nanophotocatalysts: Review of Materials and Applications

Abstract

Hybrid nanostructures and nanoarchitectures possess unique physicochemical properties such as high activity/functionality, enhanced physicochemical stability, and improved biocompatibility, which renders them suitable for various biomedical, pharmaceutical, environmental, and catalytic applications. In this context, core-shell nanophotocatalysts have shown superior activity compared to their counterparts, namely, their individual pristine semiconductors and composite materials components. Thus, the development of various innovative core-shell nanostructures as photocatalysts is of practical relevance in view of their unique properties with salient advantageous features applicable to, among others, the degradation of organic pollutants, energy storage, and H-2 generation. Assorted techniques are deployed to synthesize core-shell nanostructures, including chemical vapor deposition, sol-gel, hydrothermal, spin-coating deposition, solvothermal, combustion waves, microwave (MW)- and ultrasonic-assisted, electrodeposition, laser ablation, and biological approaches. Because core-shell nanostructures provide an immense opportunity to have the most efficient photocatalysts with high stability and reproducibility; herein, the recent advances in this domain are discussed, comprising the most important fabrication techniques and diverse appliances including important challenges and unrealized opportunities.