The band gap energy of a material can be engineered through several methods to enhance its catalytic performance: - Doping: Introducing foreign atoms into the material's lattice can alter its electronic structure and reduce the band gap. - Heterojunction Formation: Combining two materials with different band gaps can create a heterojunction, improving charge separation and extending the light absorption range. - Nanostructuring: Reducing the particle size to the nanoscale can modify the band gap due to quantum confinement effects, enhancing the material's photocatalytic activity. - Surface Modification: Coating or functionalizing the surface with specific molecules can tailor the band gap and improve the material's interaction with light and reactants.
