Photoelectrocatalysis: Principles and Applications

Abstract

Recalcitrant compounds are a serious environmental and health problem mainly due to their toxicity and potential hazardous effects on living organisms, including human beings. Conventional wastewater treatments have not been able to remove pollutants from water efficiently; however, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are able to solve this environmental concern. One of the most recent AOP technology is photoelectrocatalysis (PEC), a process that combines electrochemical advanced oxidation and photocatalytic (PC) processes to avoid the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and the lifetime of photogenerated holes in order to promote an efficient degradation and mineralization of organic pollutants in aqueous medium. This chapter is divided in the following sections: (1) introduction (2) semiconductors and fundamentals of photoelectrocatalysis; (3) kinetic aspects of photoelectrocatalysis mechanism; (4) photocatalysts, (4.1) modified materials, (4.2) synthesis of the photoelectrodes; (5) electrophotocatalytic systems, (5.1) operational parameters; (6) applications in the degradation of pollutants, (6.1) organic pollutants, (6.2) inorganic contaminants, (6.3) industrial and municipal wastewater treatment; (7) conclusions and perspectives; and (8) references.