Heterojunction photocatalysts for improvements and innovation in Toluene photo-oxidation under visible light: Recent advances

Document Type

Review

Publication Date

2-25-2026

Abstract

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like toluene pose significant environmental and health risks, which demands efficient remediation strategies. Photocatalysis, has emerged as a highly promising route due to its eco-friendliness and energy efficiency and particularly utilizing heterojunction-based materials are highly effective. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in heterojunction photocatalysts specifically engineered for toluene photodegradation. We critically evaluate the performance of diverse heterojunction systems, including Type-II and S-scheme configurations, emphasizing key performance metrics crucial for practical application. The evaluation focuses on quantitative measures such as the photodegradation rate (r), typically expressed in μmol⋅gcat−1⋅h−1, to assess intrinsic catalyst activity. We analyze the significance of the clean air delivery rate (CADR), which quantifies the volume of purified air per unit time (m3⋅h−1), directly reflecting real-world purification efficiency as a critical metric for industrial scalability along with quantum yield (QY) and space-time yield (STY). This review aims to guide future research towards designing highly efficient and practically viable heterojunction photocatalysts for effective toluene abatement.

Publication Title

Journal of Alloys and Compounds

ISSN

09258388

DOI

10.1016/j.jallcom.2026.186484

Volume

1056

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