Metal phosphides for photocatalysis: design strategies and emerging applications

The global energy crisis and environmental pollution have greatly accelerated the development of sustainable technologies for renewable energy conversion and environmental remediation. Among them, photocatalysis has emerged as a promising strategy for solar-to-chemical energy conversion. Transition metal phosphides (TMPs), including representative materials such as Ni₂P, CoP, FeP, and MoP, have attracted extensive attention as highly efficient photocatalysts and cocatalysts because of their tunable electronic structures, metallic conductivity, abundant active sites, and favorable hydrogen adsorption/desorption. Recent studies have demonstrated that TMP-based photocatalysts can achieve remarkable photocatalytic rates and apparent quantum efficiencies through rational interface engineering, heterojunction construction, and morphology regulation. This review comprehensively summarizes the recent progress in TMPbased photocatalysts for energy- and environment-related applications. Various synthesis strategies are discussed, and the effects of phosphorus and metal components on photocatalytic performance are analyzed. Furthermore, the fundamental mechanisms governing photocatalytic activity are highlighted, supported by both theoretical and experimental evidence. Particular emphasis is placed on optimization strategies for enhancing catalytic efficiency. In addition, the relationship between structural properties and photocatalytic performance is elucidated, and key challenges and future research directions are identified. This review provides new insights into the rational design and fabrication of advanced TMP-based catalysts and aims to accelerate their practical applications in energyrelated photocatalysis. <br> The bibliography includes 156 references.