Matter
Volume 2, Issue 6, 3 June 2020, Pages 1377-1413
Journal home page for Matter

Review
Porous Two-Dimensional Materials for Photocatalytic and Electrocatalytic Applications

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2020.04.002Get rights and content
Under an Elsevier user license
open archive

Progress and Potential

Photocatalysis and electrocatalysis are two key renewable and sustainable technologies to potentially satisfy the global energy demands in clean ways. Currently, these two technologies are still restricted by the challenges in seeking high-efficiency, low-cost, and stable catalysts. The performance of photo- and electrocatalysts is directly related to the design of catalysts with optimal structures. Porous two-dimensional materials with both tunable pore size, morphology, and ultrahigh exposed surface area provide substantial scope for catalyst design and are now attracting extensive research attention. We hope this comprehensive review of the use of porous two-dimensional materials in photocatalysis and electrocatalysis may inspire some new thoughts and ideas for the rational design and preparation of novel high-performance photo- and electrocatalysts, which may speed up the commercial use of these two key renewable technologies.

Summary

Two-dimensional materials with abundant in-plane pores (porous 2D materials) have shown high performances as catalysts, especially for photocatalysis and electrocatalysis, owing to their distinct microstructural advantages originating from both 2D materials and porous materials. Here, the recent progress in porous 2D materials in photocatalysis and electrocatalysis is reviewed. We first highlight the influence of their special structural merits on the processes of photocatalysis and electrocatalysis, including transport of ion and/or charge carriers, surface active sites, stability, modifications, electronic band structure, and light absorption properties. Representative synthetic methods for porous 2D materials are also introduced classified by top-down and bottom-up routes. In addition, their applications in different aspects of photocatalysis and electrocatalysis are presented systematically. In conclusion, we propose some opportunities and challenges for the development of porous 2D materials, with the hope of further facilitating the applications of these emerging advanced materials in photocatalysis and electrolysis.

Keywords

porous two-dimensional materials
photocatalytic
electrocatalytic
energy conversion

Cited by (0)

4

These authors contributed equally