Advances in Rare Earth‐Doped ZnO Photocatalysts: Enhancing Photogenerated Electron‐Hole Pairs for Radical Atom Generation

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a promising material with a diverse range of applications, spanning gas sensing, photonics, photovoltaics, energy conversion, water splitting, photocatalysis, and transparent trapping. However, ZnO limited responsiveness to visible light affected to low photogenerated electron‐hole pairs (charge), low quantum efficiency, and high recombination of charge. In this review, we are addressing innovative strategies, including incorporation rare earth elements as a trap of electron to reduce recombination charge via ZnO doping from analysis 118 referenced sources. We found that hydrothermal shows very good methods for boosting efficiency up to 100 % within 60‐min. We found that for rare‐earth metals La and Ce as a doping show highest efficiency up to 100 % within 120 min irradiations, means that efficient as a trap for reducing recombination of charge. The potential of rare earth doped ZnO will enhance photogenerated electron‐hole pairs, catalyzing the generation of radical atoms via oxidation and reduction reactions. This review encapsulates the most current findings, it serves as a valuable resource for scholars seeking to advance their understanding of rare earth doped ZnO photocatalysts and developing innovative photocatalytic technologies. Combining zinc oxide (ZnO) with rare earth metal to increase the range of photons absorbed means an increased generation of charge (electron and hole) pairs during composite formation. The rare earth metal can act as an electron catcher or trap in the conduction band of rare earth ZnO to reduce the recombination rate. This review provided relationship between synthesize methods of composite with how effective rare earth metal as a trap of electrons to provide highest performance photocatalyst.