Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
16(1)
Published: June 2, 2025
Photoelectrochemical
(PEC)
synthesis
offers
a
sustainable
route
for
fine
chemicals
production,
yet
comprehending
and
modulating
the
reaction
processes
at
atomic
level
remains
challenge.
Herein,
we
develop
single-atom
Ir
decorated
Ti-doped
α-Fe2O3
photoanode
selective
PEC
of
adipic
acid
from
cyclohexanone
using
water
as
oxygen
source.
The
system
achieves
6.0
μmol
cm-2
h-1
production
with
~60%
Faradaic
efficiency
~88%
selectivity.
promotes
photogenerated
carrier
separation
transfer,
while
regulating
electronic
structure
to
optimize
its
adsorption
strength
OH-
cyclohexanone.
Mechanistic
studies
reveal
non-free-radical
pathway
level,
driven
by
holes
through
an
adsorbed
hydroxyl
transfer.
Notably,
integrating
amorphous
silicon-based
photocathode
leads
bias-free
device
that
enables
stable
over
80
hours,
underscoring
potential
light-driven
synthesis.
Advanced Energy Materials,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
13(36)
Published: Aug. 6, 2023
Abstract
Hydrogen
peroxide
is
an
essential
chemical
that
attracting
strong
attention
for
energy
and
environmental
applications.
However,
the
struggle
between
growing
market
demand
unsustainability
of
conventional
anthraquinone
method
motivates
exploration
alternative
H
2
O
production
processes.
Although
several
new
processes
have
been
proposed,
environmental‐friendly
solar‐driven
attracts
most
because
only
inputs
water,
oxygen,
light
energy.
The
rational
design
functional
photo‐responsive
catalysts
promotes
in
photocatalytic
photoelectrocatalytic
approaches.
These
are,
general,
achieved
by
facilitating
preferential
adsorption
key
intermediates
OOH*/OH*/O*,
enhancing
absorption,
promoting
charge
separation,
accelerating
surface
transfer
with
selective
number
involved
charges.
This
review
systematically
summarizes
strategies
photo(electro)catalysts
toward
via
both
water
oxidation
oxygen
reduction
pathways.
Though
route
perceived
as
more
popular
community,
emerging
a
convincing
alternative.
Furthermore,
prevailing
hypotheses,
state‐of‐the‐art
catalysts,
critical
challenges,
perspectives
are
discussed
depth.
aims
to
enhance
comprehension
this
research
field
promote
interest
sustainable
production.
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
14(1)
Published: Dec. 7, 2023
Ruthenium
dioxide
is
the
most
promising
alternative
to
prevailing
but
expensive
iridium-based
catalysts
for
oxygen
evolution
reaction
in
proton-exchange
membrane
water
electrolyzers.
However,
under-coordinated
lattice
of
ruthenium
prone
over-oxidation,
and
vacancies
are
formed
at
high
oxidation
potentials
under
acidic
corrosive
conditions.
Consequently,
atoms
adjacent
oxidized
into
soluble
high-valence
derivatives,
causing
collapse
crystal
structure
leading
its
poor
stability.
Here,
we
report
an
oxyanion
protection
strategy
prevent
formation
on
surface
by
forming
coordination-saturated
oxygen.
Combining
density
functional
theory
calculations,
electrochemical
measurements,
a
suite
operando
spectroscopies,
showcase
that
barium-anchored
sulfate
can
greatly
impede
loss
extend
lifetime
ruthenium-based
during
evolution,
while
maintaining
activity.
This
work
paves
new
way
designing
stable
active
anode
toward
splitting.
Angewandte Chemie International Edition,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
63(15)
Published: Feb. 15, 2024
Abstract
Photocatalytic
oxygen
reductive
H
2
O
production
is
a
promising
approach
to
alternative
industrial
anthraquinone
processes
while
suffering
from
the
requirement
of
pure
feedstock
for
practical
application.
Herein,
we
report
spaced
double
hydrogen
bond
(IC−H‐bond)
through
multi‐component
Radziszewski
reaction
in
an
imidazole
poly‐ionic‐liquid
composite
(SI‐PIL‐TiO
)
and
levofloxacin
hydrochloride
(LEV)
electron
donor
highly
efficient
selective
photocatalytic
air
production.
It
found
that
IC−H‐bond
formed
by
imino
(−NH−)
group
SI‐PIL‐TiO
carbonyl
(−C=O)
LEV
can
switch
active
sites
characteristic
covered
state
fully
exposed
one
shield
strong
adsorption
N
air,
propel
intenser
positive
potential
more
orbitals
binding
patterns
surface
establish
competitive
selectivity
chemisorption.
Moreover,
high
enrichment
as
site
2e
−
reduction
ensures
rapid
.
Therefore,
enables
total
utilization
conversion
efficiency
94.8
%
direct
reduction,
achieving
rate
1518
μmol/g/h
16
23
times
compared
without
groups
(PIL‐TiO
TiO
,
respectively.
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
15(1)
Published: June 28, 2024
Abstract
Dihydroxyacetone
is
the
most
desired
product
in
glycerol
oxidation
reaction
because
of
its
highest
added
value
and
large
market
demand
among
all
possible
products.
However,
selectively
oxidative
secondary
hydroxyl
groups
for
highly
efficient
dihydroxyacetone
production
still
poses
a
challenge.
In
this
study,
we
engineer
surface
BiVO
4
by
introducing
bismuth-rich
domains
oxygen
vacancies
(Bi-rich
4-x
)
to
systematically
modulate
adsorption
enhance
photo-induced
charge
separation
photoelectrochemical
into
conversion.
As
result,
Bi-rich
increases
photocurrent
density
from
1.42
4.26
mA
cm
−2
at
1.23
V
vs.
reversible
hydrogen
electrode
under
AM
1.5
G
illumination,
as
well
selectivity
54.0%
80.3%,
finally
achieving
rate
361.9
mmol
m
h
−1
that
outperforms
reported
values.
The
atom
customization
opens
way
regulate
solar-driven
organic
transformation
pathway
toward
carbon
chain-balanced
product.
ACS Catalysis,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
14(7), P. 4369 - 4378
Published: March 7, 2024
Photoelectrochemical
(PEC)
water
splitting
into
hydrogen
peroxide
(H2O2)
and
(H2)
is
a
promising
alternative
to
energy
environmentally
intensive
production.
Bulk
electronic
surface
structures
affect
the
charge
transport
efficiency
catalytic
activity
of
photoelectrode.
Herein,
we
design
investigate
hematite
(Fe2O3)
nanorod
photoelectrode
with
hafnium
titanium
binary
dopants
for
highly
selective
H2O2
The
resultant
photoanode
shows
yield
0.41
μmol
min–1
cm–2
at
1.5
VRHE
Faradaic
72.2%.
Experimental
investigations
theoretical
calculations
demonstrate
synergistic
effect
Hf
gradient
Ti
doping
on
performance.
effectively
improves
crystallinity
Fe2O3,
which
favors
improving
reducing
recombination.
Gradient
inhibits
collapse
structure,
increases
specific
area,
introduces
large
number
active
sites
surface.
Ti-
Hf-codoped
Ti/Hf:Fe2O3
kinetics
generation,
leading
high
selectivity
production
suppression
O2
This
work
provides
importance
hematite-based
photoanodes
toward
regulation
competition
reactions
Science Advances,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
9(45)
Published: Nov. 8, 2023
Photoelectrochemical
(PEC)
organic
transformations
occurring
at
anodes
are
a
promising
strategy
for
circumventing
the
sluggish
kinetics
of
oxygen
evolution
reaction.
Here,
we
report
free
radical-mediated
reaction
instead
direct
hole
transfer
solid/liquid
interface
PEC
oxidation
benzyl
alcohol
(BA)
to
benzaldehyde
(BAD)
with
high
selectivity.
A
bismuth
vanadate
(BiVO4)
photoanode
coated
2,2'-bipyridine-based
covalent
framework
bearing
single
Ni
sites
(Ni-TpBpy)
was
developed
drive
transformation.
Experimental
studies
reveal
that
Ni-TpBpy/BiVO4
followed
first-order
kinetics,
boosting
formation
surface-bound
·OH
radicals,
which
suppressed
further
BAD
and
provided
nearly
100%
selectivity
rate
80.63
μmol
hour-1
BA-to-BAD
conversion.
Because
alcohol-to-aldehyde
conversions
involved
in
valorizations
biomass
plastics,
this
work
is
expected
open
distinct
avenues
producing
key
intermediates
great
value.
Advanced Functional Materials,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
34(46)
Published: June 20, 2024
Abstract
Photoelectrochemical
(PEC)
cells
are
regarded
as
a
promising
approach
to
convert
sunlight
chemical
fuels,
whereas
the
serious
photo‐induced
charge
recombination
of
semiconductor
photoelectrode
hinders
its
solar
conversion
efficiency.
Over
past
few
decades,
designing
and
constructing
heterojunction
photoelectrodes
via
thermodynamically
favorable
transfer
have
been
proven
be
effective
in
boosting
separation.
However,
conventional
construction
strategy
generally
introduces
incompatible,
nonconformal,
or
defective
interfaces,
leaving
considerable
room
improve
efficiency
photoelectrodes.
To
compensate
for
unsatisfied
efficiency,
some
novel
strategies,
such
grain
boundary
engineering,
band
gap
field‐effected
etc.,
adopted
provide
additional
driving
force,
which
significantly
improves
In
this
review,
these
strategies
discussed
beyond
construction,
prospects
development
applications
photoanodes
also
proposed.
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
15(1)
Published: March 6, 2024
Propelled
by
the
structure
of
water
oxidation
co-catalysts
in
natural
photosynthesis,
molecular
have
long
been
believed
to
possess
developable
potential
artificial
photosynthesis.
However,
interfacial
complexity
between
light
absorber
and
co-catalyst
limits
its
structural
stability
charge
transfer
efficiency.
To
overcome
challenge,
a
supramolecular
scaffold
with
[FeCl
Energy & Environmental Science,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
17(20), P. 7459 - 7511
Published: Jan. 1, 2024
This
review
provides
a
comprehensive
overview
on
the
mechanism
of
photoelectrochemical
biomass
conversion
and
highlights
extension
dual-function
cells
for
valorization
paired
with
more
valuable
half-reactions.
ACS Energy Letters,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
8(12), P. 5192 - 5200
Published: Nov. 27, 2023
Photoelectrochemical
(PEC)
H2O2
production
has
gained
interest
as
a
green,
promising
route
to
produce
valuable
chemicals.
However,
it
suffers
from
low
Faradaic
efficiency
due
competing
O2
generation.
Here,
we
propose
plasmon-driven
band
structure
engineering
strategy
thermodynamically
regulate
the
product
selectivity
of
metal
oxide
based
PEC
photoanode.
It
is
demonstrated
that
plasmonic
near-field
generated
by
periodically
patterned
Au
nanosphere
arrays
(Au-PAT)
effectively
modulates
surface
photovoltage
and
energy
BiVO4
This
modulation
helps
photoinduced
charge
carriers
satisfy
thermodynamic
potential
required
shift
water
oxidation
reaction
(WOR)
high-value
H2O2.
As
result,
BiVO4/Au-PAT
achieves
approximately
3.3
times
higher
than
pristine
BiVO4.
These
findings
suggest
effectiveness
external
modulation,
originating
effect,
in
regulating
WOR
pathway,
providing
an
efficient
selective
value-added
production.