Directing photocatalysis toward practical applications from powder to films

Over the past three decades, substantial efforts have been dedicated to developing high-performance photocatalysts for solar fuel production and scaling up their applications, particularly through the fabrication of photocatalytic thin films. These efforts have led to significant advancements moving towards practical applications. In this review, various techniques have been introduced to achieve thin films over time, including vapor deposition, solution-phase growth and in-situ polymerization, each tailored to different materials and their applications. Ultimately, the choice of method should be based on a comprehensive evaluation of factors such as efficiency, stability, process complexity, and cost in the context of solar fuel production. This review seeks to address the critical question of how to guide photoredox catalysis toward practical implementation, contributing to sustainable solutions for global energy, environmental and other challenges.