Stimuli-responsive catalytic membrane reactors: current challenges and future outlook in water treatment technologies

Advances in the design and synthesis of photo- and electro-driven catalysts have fostered the development of stimuli-responsive membrane reactors for innovative advanced oxidation processes. Stimuli-responsive membrane reactors are designed to combine membrane separation with the catalytic removal of pollutants. Renewable energies, such as solar irradiation and green electricity, can be utilized to produce oxidizing species on the photo- or electro-active surface of membranes, greatly enhancing the removal of waterborne pollutants. Critical assessment of the current challenges in stimuli-responsive membranes highlights how energy efficiency and system lifetime are pivotal to increase the technological readiness to industrial-scale applications.