Photocatalysis,　which　is　the　catalyzation　of　redox　reactions　via　the　use　of　energy　obtained　from　light　sources,　is　a　topic　that　has　garnered　a　lot　of　attention　in　recent　years　as　a　means　of　addressing　the　environmental　and　economic　issues　plaguing　society　today.　Of　particular　interest　are　photosynthesis　can　potentially　mimic　a　variety　of　vital　reactions,　many　of　which　hold　the　key　to　develop　sustainable　energy　economy.　In　light　of　this,　many　of　the　technological　and　procedural　advancements　that　have　recently　occurred　in　the　field　are　discussed　in　this　review,　namely　those　linked　to:　(1)　photocatalysts　made　from　metal　oxides,　nitride,　and　sulfides;　(2)　photocatalysis　via　polymeric　carbon　nitride　(PCN);　and　(3)　general　advances　and　mechanistic　insights　related　to　TiO2-based　catalysts.　The　challenges　and　opportunities　that　have　arisen　over　the　past　few　years　are　discussed　in　detail.　Basic　concepts　and　experimental　procedures　which　could　be　useful　for　eventually　overcoming　the　problems　associated　with　photo-catalysis　are　presented　herein.　©　2019,　Science　China　Press　and　Springer-Verlag　GmbH　Germany,　part　of　Springer　Nature.