Toward efficient solar energy conversion: Emerging directions in photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis

Solar-driven catalytic technologies offer alternative pathways for addressing global challenges in energy sustainability and environmental remediation. Photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis have received considerable attention for their potential to convert abundant solar energy into chemical fuels and value-added products. Despite remarkable progress over the past decades, the practical implementation of these technologies still faces major challenges, including limited light utilization, rapid charge recombination, and an insufficiently explored understanding of reaction mechanisms. This Editorial briefly summarizes the current state of the art in photocatalysis and highlights future research directions with a focus on advanced material design and mechanistic investigations.