Journal of Engineering in Industrial Research

h-index: 18     i10-index: 25

Photo-Catalysis: A Clear Path to Cleaner Chemistry

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

Ubaid Ullah Khan 1
Shafqat Munir 2
Zafar Ali Shah 3
Abid Ali Khan 4

1 Department of Chemical Science, University of Lakki Marwat, KP, Pakistan

2 Department of Chemistry, Minhaj University, Lahore Punjab, Pakistan

3 Department of Agricultural Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

4 Department of chemical science, University of Lakki Marwat, KP, Pakistan

https://doi.org/10.48309/jeires.2026.540297.1308
Abstract
Photocatalysis is a fast-advancing pillar of green chemistry with strong promise for sustainable, energy-efficient environmental remediation. Drawing on studies from 2018–2024, this review surveys progress, challenges, and future directions in semiconductor photocatalysts—emphasizing titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and its modified forms alongside g-C₃N₄ composites and high-entropy oxides—which are valued for low energy demand, operational simplicity, and effective degradation of persistent organic pollutants. Recent design strategies—metal/non-metal doping, heterojunction engineering, and composite construction—have expanded visible-light response, improved light harvesting, and suppressed charge recombination, yielding degradation efficiencies of ~94–96% for model dyes such as methylene blue and methyl orange and delivering ~15–25% gains in quantum efficiency versus conventional systems. Key practical barriers remain, including carrier recombination, photostability over long use, and limits in solar utilization, but converging advances in material architecture and reactor engineering are steadily translating lab performance into scalable, eco-friendly, and cost-effective technologies for industrial wastewater treatment and sustainable chemical manufacturing—pointing to a clear path toward cleaner chemistry.

Graphical Abstract

Photo-Catalysis: A Clear Path to Cleaner Chemistry

Keywords

Photocatalysis
Semiconductor photocatalysts
Visible-light activation
Environmental remediation
Catalyst design
Reactive oxygen species (ROS)
Sustainable materials
Wastewater treatment

Subjects

OPEN ACCESS

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Journal of Engineering in Industrial Research
Volume 7, Issue 2
Spring 2026
Pages 89-112

  • Receive Date 09 August 2025
  • Revise Date 03 November 2025
  • Accept Date 12 November 2025

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