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1588573 
Journal Article 
Semiconductor PhotocatalysisMechanistic and Synthetic Aspects 
Kisch, H 
2013 
Yes 
Angewandte Chemie (International Edition)
ISSN: 1433-7851
EISSN: 1521-3773 
52 
3 
812-847 
English 
23212748 
WOS:000313688100004 
Preceding work on photoelectrochemistry at semiconductor
single-crystal electrodes has formed the basis for the tremendous growth in the three last
decades in the field of photocatalysis at semiconductor powders. The reason for this is the
unique ability of inorganic semiconductor surfaces to photocatalyze concerted reduction and
oxidation reactions of a large variety of electron-donor and -acceptor substrates. Whereas great
attention was paid to water splitting and the exhaustive aerobic degradation of pollutants, only
a small amount of research also explored synthetic aspects. After introducing the basic
mechanistic principles, standard experiments for the preparation and characterization of visible
light active photocatalysts as well as the investigation of reaction mechanisms are discussed.
Novel atom-economic C?C and C?N coupling reactions illustrate the relevance of semiconductor
photocatalysis for organic synthesis, and demonstrate that the multidisciplinary field combines
classical photochemistry with electrochemistry, solid-state chemistry, and heterogeneous
catalysis. 
electron transfer; photocatalysis; photochemistry; semiconductors; synthetic methods