Photocatalytic Membranes Toward Practical Environmental Remediation: Fundamental, Fabrication, and Application

With the serious pollution of water resources in the process of social development, green and environmentally friendly photocatalytic technology has gradually attracted widespread attention. Though photocatalytic theory and technology are relatively mature, the current research is mainly focused on powders and less on the photocatalytic membranes, and few real practical cases of photocatalysis are studied. To summarize and update these advanced studies, this paper introduces the latest progress in photocatalytic membranes including discussing the differences of photocatalytic mechanism between free and fixed photocatalytic systems and the design philosophy of photocatalytic membranes. At the same time, some common fabrication methods, including in situ growth, coating, spinning, casting, and foaming methods are analyzed. Besides, the photocatalytic performances of different photocatalytic membranes in the actual environment and their use conditions are explored. Finally, a critical view of future trends is included. The explanation of the photocatalytic mechanism, large-scale production, and the practicality of photocatalytic products are all problems that need to be solved in the future. Although photocatalysis theory and technology are relatively mature, few real practical cases of photocatalysis are studied. This review discusses the mechanism and design philosophy of photocatalytic membranes, introduces some common fabrication methods including in situ growth, coating, spinning, casting, and foaming methods, explores the photocatalytic performances of different photocatalytic membranes, and includes the future trends of photocatalytic membranes.image