Modulating Thermal Field and Electric Field for Enhanced Photocatalysis: From Mechanism to Structure Design

Photocatalysis is pivotal for addressing global energy and environmental challenges. However, its efficiency is constrained by narrow light absorption, rapid photogenerated carrier recombination, and sluggish kinetics. Regulation of thermal and electric fields (by photothermal/piezoelectric/pyroelectric effects) serves as a versatile strategy to overcome these bottlenecks, with merits of facile operation, high efficiency, and no secondary pollution. Different from previous studies emphasizing the photothermal conversion or the piezoelectric effect, this work focuses on the synergistic modulation of thermal and electric fields, along with the pyroelectric effect. In detail, this review summarizes advances in thermal modulation, piezoelectric regulation, and thermo-piezoelectric synergy, clarifying their core mechanisms. Structural design strategies of regulatory systems and applications in key photocatalytic reactions are discussed. Furthermore, current challenges and plausible future directions are prospected, providing theoretical support and technical guidance for designing efficient photocatalytic systems and promoting their industrialization.