Photochemical Cross-Couplings using Semiconducting Materials

In this personal account, I describe the work performed in my research group on the development of methods that harness heterogeneous photocatalysts for light-mediated nickel-catalyzed cross-couplings. This includes catalytic systems using carbon nitride materials, dye-sensitized TiO₂, covalent organic frameworks (COFs), and conjugated polymers. The rationale behind the selection of materials and how their use led to the identification of catalyst deactivation, structure-activity relationships, and future opportunities is discussed.