Function-oriented engineering of framework materials for advanced sonocatalytic energy and environmental applications

초록

Sonocatalysis is a rapidly emerging advanced method that uses acoustic cavitation to produce localized extreme conditions and reactive radical species that accelerate chemical reactions. Sonocatalysis offers numerous benefits over conventional catalysis and advanced oxidation processes, which include enhanced mass transfer, flexible reactor design, and operation in dark or murky environments. This review delineates a systematic framework correlating to cavitation mechanisms, charge transfer pathways, ultrasonic operational parameters, and structure–property relationships in catalysts. The sonocatalysts are classified as carbon-derived supports, graphitic carbon nitride, biomaterials, and carbon-free materials, including semiconductor-based materials, metal and metal-oxide systems, and heterostructured multifunctional composites. A comparative analysis highlights the distinct contributions of each category to radical generation, defect modulation, energy harvesting, recyclability, and scalability. Recent advances in piezoelectric polarization, plasmon-coupled activation, heterojunction engineering, and sonophotocatalytic hybrid architectures substantially expanded sonocatalysis toward pollutant degradation, H2 production, CO2 conversion, biomass valorization, disinfection, and biomedical applications. However, significant scientific challenges remain in the sonocatalysis system, related to the mechanistic understanding, energy efficiency, catalyst durability, reactor scalability, and industrial applicability. Operando spectroscopy, computational modeling (including density functional theory and machine learning-based approaches), microfluidic sonoreactor engineering, and techno-economic assessment are essential for advancing sonocatalysis from laboratory-scale studies to practical implementations. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the rapidly evolving materials, mechanistic pathways, applications, and scale-up challenges of sonocatalysis.

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