A review on modification of piezoelectric materials for wastewater treatment: mechanisms, applications, and future perspectives

ABSTRACT

Piezoelectric catalytic technology converts mechanical energy into chemical energy using non-centrosymmetric materials (e.g., BaTiO3, ZnO, MoS2) for water pollution control. Under stress, these materials generate piezoelectric potential that drives reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, thereby achieving dye/antibiotic degradation rates, Escherichia coli inactivation rates, and exhibiting heavy metal reduction capabilities. Key optimizations include morphology control, heterostructure construction, and element doping (to enhance charge separation/polarization). It avoids chemicals and uses natural mechanical energy but faces low environmental stress utilization and high carrier recombination. Future directions: eco-friendly drives, multi-field (photo/electro) coupling, AI-assisted material design.