Structural Engineering Strategies of Aluminum-Based Photocatalysts for Energy and Environmental Applications

Aluminum-based photocatalysts offer a platform for clean energy conversion and environmental remediation due to their tunable surface chemistry, high surface area, and earth abundance. Their localized surface plasmon resonance effect extends light absorption across the UV-IR region, promoting charge separation and improving photocatalytic performance. The structural diversity of aluminum-based materials, including layered hydroxides, mesoporous and hierarchical architectures, and composite oxides, enables versatile performance optimization. This review highlights recent progress in synthesis, structural modulation, and applications in hydrogen evolution, CO2 reduction, nitrogen fixation, and pollutant degradation. Key strategies such as morphology control, defect and dopant engineering, heterojunction construction, and plasmonic enhancement are summarized to address issues of surface oxidation and the size-dependent spectral response. Finally, perspectives on future challenges and opportunities are discussed toward developing aluminum-based photocatalytic systems with improved efficiency and multifunctionality.