Defective Photocatalytic Materials for Biomass Conversion

It is imperative to formulate effective techniques for enhancing biomass conversion efficiency (e.g., cellulose, lignin, biochar, chitin, and chitosan) in light of rising energy demand. Moreover, biomass derived from agricultural leftovers is a viable alternative to fossil fuels and a sustainable carbon source for the production of value-added chemicals. Researchers recognize defect engineering as a potent method to improve light absorption, charge carrier separation, and transport in photocatalytic materials. Oxygen vacancies, point defects, surface defects, and defect passivation in photocatalytic feedstocks make them ideal for the development of novel photocatalytic materials and their application in converting biomass into energy. This chapter examines defect formation and creation in different photocatalytic feedstocks while underscoring the synthesis procedures, characterization, and challenges of these defective components for biomass conversion into useful chemicals and fuels.