Preparation of photocatalysts by chemical methodologies

Several methodologies have been applied for the preparation of bulk and supported photocatalysts. In this chapter we overview some of the most used preparation processes for bulk materials, focusing our attention particularly on the chemical methodologies, including precipitation/co-precipitation, sol-gel, hydrothermal/solvothermal procedures, microemulsion technique, solid-state reactions, and solution combustion synthesis. In the general description of the chemical preparation methodologies, procedures to obtain composites, binary or mixed photocatalytic powders, as impregnation, wet-coating, co-precipitation, and deposition-precipitation, will be also considered. In the next chapter, Chapter 3, different methodologies, the alternatives to the chemical approach, for the preparation of both bulk and thin films/coated photocatalysts needing engineered apparatuses will be discussed.