Defect Engineering in Photocatalysis: Opportunities and Challenges

Nowadays, defect-engineered photocatalytic materials are an exciting research topic of great interest, offering opportunities to tailor the properties of photocatalysts for specific applications. To fully harness the potential of defect engineering in photocatalysis, a multidisciplinary approach including materials science synthesis, chemistry, physics, and engineering is required. Additionally, a collaboration between theoretical and experimental scientists is an important step toward developing new photocatalytic materials and understanding the underlying principles that govern their photocatalytic behaviors. Up until now, with continued research works and developments, the challenges associated with defect engineering have been widely studied, leading to advancements in sustainable energy technologies and environmental remediation strategies. Here, we present the importance of defective photocatalytic materials synthesis and their uses in several domains. We also highlight the benefits and limitations of defect-engineered photocatalytic materials implementation. This chapter could serve as a good platform for highlighting the importance of defective photoactive materials in our lives at present and in the near future.