Photocatalysts mimicking natural biological structures with enhanced application performances: a mini review

Abstract

Bionic, biomorphic and bioinspired photocatalysts are designed to mimic biological and natural organisms because of excellent structure–function relationships. These naturally mimicked photocatalysts are designed to improve on photocatalytic applications to solve the global energy and environmental challenges via the green approach for sustainable development. This mini review highlights the influence of morphologies of bionic, biomorphic and bioinspired photocatalysts on various photocatalytic applications. Photocatalysts are designed and fabricated to mimic specific purposes such as bionics are nanostructured with highly porous architectures to improve on surface area for photocatalytic reactive sites, biomorphics for optimum light harvesting ability and easy flow of materials whiles the bioinspired photocatalysts mimic optimum light absorption capacity of natural materials. Although the bioinspired, biomorphic and bionic photocatalysts show very important potential and applications in diverse fields, key challenges such as complex synthesis approach, scalability, photo instability and durability are limiting their large-scale commercialization. Thus, multidisciplinary approach and continuous exploration should be carried out for advanced naturally mimicked photocatalytic systems design and fabrication. Furthermore, AI and Machine learning driven approaches should be utilized to improve and accelerate new discovery of bioinspired, bionic and biomorphic photocatalysts. This mini review would contribute significantly to researchers’ knowledge in designing and fabrication of natural mimicked photocatalysts and photocatalytic systems. Bioinspired and naturally mimicked morphology photocatalysts have enhanced photocatalytic performances. Bioinspired morphology photocatalysts are excellent for photo capturing and light management. Naturally mimicked photocatalysts which are biomorphic have efficient charge carriers’ generation and separation and mobility. Naturally mimicked photocatalysts which are bionic photocatalysts have good artificial photocatalytic active sites.