Recent Developments of Nanostructured Photocatalysts Based on Semiconducting Chalcogenides for Organic Reactions

Abstract:: The earth-abundant metal chalcogenide is a highly versatile semiconductor with unique electronic and optical properties that seem to outperform the photocatalytic properties of metal oxides and metal nanoparticles. For ages, researchers are reaping the benefits of its photocatalytic properties in numerous reactions. However, the high charge recombination rates, poor compositional stability, and a smaller number of catalytically active sites restrict its application. The development of different kinds of heterojunctions by the combination of metal-chalcogenides with other conducting and semiconducting materials like metal oxides, metal nanoparticles, g-C3N4, single-atom catalysts, and MOF results in superior photocatalytic activity. This review provides insight into the various classes of metal-chalcogenide-based heterostructures and their application in various organic transformations. A brief overview of the synergistic properties arising from the development of such heterostructures helps to understand the surface interactions so that highly stable, efficient, and selective metal-chalcogenide-based heterostructures can be developed for industrially important photocatalytic organic transformations. This review also describes the role of mediators in boosting the stability and catalytic efficiency of the metal chalcogenides. Moreover, a thorough emphasis on the morphological impact of photocatalysts in various reactions will help with the development of metal chalcogenide heterostructures with tunable morphology and bandgap.