Smart photoactive soft materials for environmental cleaning and energy production through incorporation of nanophotocatalyst on polymers and textiles

Abstract

Energy and environment are key issues for the sustainable development of human beings and are also the current and long‐term focuses of scientific research. New energy and environmental technologies in combination with polymer and textile science work to create many additional functions for conventional polymers and fabrics. Therefore, some novel technical polymers and textiles, such as photovoltaic and photocatalytic polymers and textiles, have begun to emerge. Generally, light‐activated chemicals, materials, or processes that are produced or enabled by light and the agent absorbing light starting a photochemical alteration in the system is nominated as photocatalyst. This review firstly introduces the different photoactive materials, their classifications, and degradation mechanism. Then, inorganic semiconductor nanoparticles were selected as the best candidate for the application in soft materials. Finally, a detailed study was provided on both preparations of photoactive soft materials using metal oxide semiconductors and their advantages and applications. This paper will be more helpful for the scientists working in the field of photoactive soft materials.