How Does Band Gap Energy Influence Photocatalytic Activity?
A material's band gap energy influences its photocatalytic activity by affecting the generation of electron-hole pairs. When a photocatalyst absorbs photons with energy equal to or greater than its band gap, electrons are excited from the valence band to the conduction band, leaving behind holes. These electron-hole pairs can then participate in redox reactions on the catalyst's surface, facilitating the degradation of pollutants, hydrogen production, or other chemical transformations.
