Review on Fundamental and Recent Advances of Strain Engineering for Enhancing Photocatalytic CO₂ Reduction

Abstract

Photocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) is widely recognized as an attractive technology for simultaneously addressing environmental issues and energy crises. CO2RR encompasses three primary processes: electron‐hole generation, electron‐hole separation, and surface catalysis. Consequently, the light absorption capacity, charge separation ability, and selectivity of the surface catalytic site of the photocatalyst significantly influence the rate of CO2RR. The significant role of strain engineering in the photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide to solar fuel using semiconductor catalysts is reviewed in this paper. Specifically, the design strategies of strain catalysts and the crucial role of strain on CO2RR are examined. In this paper, the mechanisms of strain‐enhanced light absorption, photoelectron‐hole separation, and product selectivity are reviewed, along with the most recent advancements in this field. This review offers valuable information for the design of strain engineering photocatalysts and supplements the review of various semiconductor photocatalysts.