A review of advances in XNbO3 perovskite-type piezo-photocatalysts: structure, modification strategies and applications

With the rapid development of industrialization and urbanization, the increasingly severe environmental pollution and energy crisis have gradually become some of the most pressing global issues. Photocatalysis is expected to become a "green" solution to address these problems. However, traditional photocatalytic materials are limited by drawbacks such as slow charge separation, low light utilization efficiency, and high surface reaction energy barriers, which make them far from meeting industrial requirements. As a result, high-performance perovskite materials have attracted growing interest. This paper focuses on XNbO 3 perovskites with piezoelectric properties , which not only show remarkable performance in photocatalysis but, more importantly, benefit from the synergistic effect between piezoelectricity and photocatalysis. Starting with an analysis of the crystal structure of XNbO 3 , the paper introduces niobate perovskites, such as KNbO 3 , AgNbO 3 , and NaNbO 3 , and summarizes the synthesis methods of XNbO 3 , while discussing the control of its morphology. The review then highlights three modification strategies to enhance the catalytic performance of niobates, including the incorporation of internal electric fields, doping, and the formation of heterojunctions . Furthermore, the paper explores the performance enhancement under photocatalytic and piezoelectric-photocatalytic synergistic effects, as well as the current application status of XNbO 3 . Finally, the article evaluates the future technological challenges and research opportunities. This review not only provides a timely summary of niobate materials but also offers valuable insights for future research on piezoelectric perovskite materials in the field of piezoelectric-photocatalysis.