Semiconductor photocatalysts and mechanisms of carbon dioxide reduction and nitrogen fixation under UV and visible light

Abstract

Abstract The review summarizes the current knowledge about heterogeneous semiconductor photocatalysts that are active towards photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide and molecular nitrogen under visible and near-UV light. The main classes of these photocatalysts and characteristic features of their application in the target processes are considered. Primary attention is given to photocatalysts based on titanium dioxide, which have high activity and stability in the carbon dioxide reduction. For the first time, the photofixation of nitrogen under irradiation in the presence of various semiconductor materials is considered in detail. The bibliography includes 264 references.