Boosting Hydrogen Evolution at Visible Light Wavelengths by Using a Photocathode with Modal Strong Coupling between Plasmons and a Fabry-Pérot Nanocavity

Hot-hole injection from plasmonic metal nanoparticles to the valence band of p-type semiconductors and reduction by hot electrons should be improved for efficient and tuneable reduction to obtain beneficial chemical compounds. We employed the concept of modal strong coupling between plasmons and a Fabry-Pérot (FP) nanocavity to enhance the hot-hole injection efficiency. We fabricated a photocathode composed of gold nanoparticles (Au−NPs), p-type nickel oxide (NiO), and a platinum film (Pt film) (ANP). The ANP structure absorbs visible light over a broad wavelength range from 500 nm to 850 nm via hybrid modes based on the modal strong coupling between the plasmons of Au−NPs and the FP nanocavity of NiO on a Pt film. All wavelength regions of the hybrid modes of the modal strong coupling system promoted hot-hole injection from the Au−NPs to NiO and proton/water reduction by hot electrons. The incident photon-to-current efficiency based on H₂ evolution through water/proton reduction by hot electrons reached 0.2 % at 650 nm and 0.04 % at 800 nm.     

Sulfonyl Nitrene and Amidyl Radical: Structure and Reactivity

Photocatalytic generation of nitrenes and radicals can be used to tune or even control their reactivity. Photocatalytic activation of sulfonyl azides leads to the elimination of N₂ and the resulting reactive species initiate C−H activations and amide formation reactions. Here, we present reactive radicals that are generated from sulfonyl azides: sulfonyl nitrene radical anion, sulfonyl nitrene and sulfonyl amidyl radical, and test their gas phase reactivity in C−H activation reactions. The sulfonyl nitrene radical anion is the least reactive and its reactivity is governed by the proton coupled electron transfer mechanism. In contrast, sulfonyl nitrene and sulfonyl amidyl radicals react via hydrogen atom transfer pathways. These reactivities and detailed characterization of the radicals with vibrational spectroscopy and with DFT calculations provide information necessary for taking control over the reactivity of these intermediates.     

Solar Driven Gas Phase Advanced Oxidation Processes for Methane Removal - Challenges and Perspectives

Methane (CH₄) is a potent greenhouse gas and the second highest contributor to global warming. CH₄ emissions are still growing at an alarmingly high pace. To limit global warming to 1.5 °C, one of the most effective strategies is to reduce rapidly the CH₄ emissions by developing large-scale methane removal methods. The purpose of this perspective paper is threefold. (1) To highlight the technology gap dealing with low concentration CH₄ (at many emission sources and in the atmosphere). (2) To analyze the challenges and prospects of solar-driven gas phase advanced oxidation processes for CH₄ removal. And (3) to propose some ideas, which may help to develop solar-driven gas phase advanced oxidation processes and make them deployable at a climate significant scale.     

Photocatalytic Reduction of Nicotinamide Co-factor by Perylene Sensitized RhIII Complexes**

The ambitious goal of artificial photosynthesis is to develop active systems that mimic nature and use light to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. Intramolecular design concepts are particularly promising. Herein, we firstly present an intramolecular photocatalyst integrating a perylene-based light-harvesting moiety and a catalytic rhodium center ( Rh^IIIphenPer ). The excited-state dynamics were investigated by means of steady-state and time-resolved absorption and emission spectroscopy. The studies reveal that photoexcitation of Rh^IIIphenPer yields the formation of a charge-separated intermediate, namely Rh^IIphenPer ⋅ ⁺ , that results in a catalytically active species in the presence of protons.     

Metallaphotoredox⁃Catalyzed O⁃Arylation of Serine北大核心CSCD

A metallaphotoredox catalyzed hydroxyl aromatization of serine is developed to achieve rapid synthesis of aryl ethers of various serine derivatives. Under the catalytic system of ethylene glycol dimethyl ether nickel bromide （NiBr2 （dme））/4,4'-dimethoxy-2,2'-bipyridine/zinc powder and synergistic iridium photoredox catalysis, nickel is catalyzed and inserted into the C—Br bond, and then followed by transmetalation with the hydroxyl group of serine. The resulting Ni（Ⅱ）species are oxidized by the excited Ir（Ⅲ）species to a Ni（Ⅲ）intermediate. This intermediate is unstable and reductive elimination takes place rapidly to give the target product O-arylated serine in the yields from 65% to 39%. Through a metallaphotoredox catalysis strategy,the reaction features mild,efficient,clean and broad scope of substrate, providing a new way for the synthesis of various serine derivatives with medicinal value. © 2022, Science Press (China). All rights reserved.     

表面活性剂修饰ZnIn2S4光催化甲苯选择性氧化

采用溶剂热合成法,借助十六烷基三甲基溴化铵（CTAB）和十八烷基三甲基溴化铵 （STAB）的修饰合成了富含硫缺陷的ZnIn2S4-CTAB和ZnIn2S4-STAB光催化剂. 通过透射电镜、X射线衍射、紫外可见漫反射光谱、电子顺磁共振和光电化学性能测试对所有样品进行了表征,并通过光催化甲苯氧化反应测试样品的催化活性. 活性结果表明ZnIn2S4-CTAB和ZnIn2S4-STAB上甲苯转化速率分别达到795 μmol gcat-1 h-1和1053 μmol gcat-1 h-1,是未修饰ZnIn2S4-Blank催化剂的4倍和5倍,同时目标产物苯甲醛选择性均大于92%. 机理研究发现,表面活性剂修饰后的ZnIn2S4-CTAB和ZnIn2S4-STAB较ZnIn2S4-Blank,具有更高浓度的硫缺陷. 硫缺陷通过捕获电子促进了光生载流子的分离与利用,显著提高了ZnIn2S4-CTAB和ZnIn2S4-STAB的光催化甲苯选择性氧化制苯甲醛活性.     

K8[Fe(H2O)W11MnO39]/PANI/V2O5三元复合材料的制备、表征及光催化性能研究

本文运用静电自组装法合成了一种新型三元复合材料K₈[Fe(H₂O)W₁₁MnO₃₉]/PANI/V₂O₅,并采用IR、UV、XRD、XPS、SEM、氮气吸附等方法对其进行表征;然后,以龙胆紫为有机污染物进行光催化实验,对此三元复合催化剂的降解性能进行研究。结果表明:K₈[Fe(H₂O)W₁₁MnO₃₉]/PANI/V₂O₅已被成功复合,且仍然保持Keggin结构,稳定性能良好;在pH=2,龙胆紫C初=5 mg·L^-1,此催化剂用量为5 mg的条件下,其脱色率高达93.09%。可见,此复合催化剂具有优异的研究潜力和实用价值。     

金属铁络合物光催化二氧化碳还原

二氧化碳(CO₂)光催化还原技术因兼具解决能源和全球变暖问题的潜力而受到关注。金属铁络合物作为分子型催化剂,具有价格低廉、量子效率高、结构可调控和选择性好等优势,表现出优异的CO₂光催化还原性能,成为CO₂光催化还原领域的研究热点。本文综述了近年来基于金属铁络合物光催化二氧化碳还原研究进展。介绍了铁金属络合物(如:铁卟啉、铁多吡啶、五齿铁配合物)CO₂均相光催化还原体系,总结了体系的构成以及作用机理等,着重关注了体系的催化效率和产物的选择性。此外,综述了以半导体纳米材料/量子点作为光敏剂,金属铁络合物作为催化剂的非均相催化体系的研究进展。最后,对该领域未来的研究方向和所面临的挑战做出展望。     

Cross-dehydrogenative Coupling of N-Aryl Tetrahydroisoquinolines Catalyzed by an Anthraquinone-containing Polymeric Photosensitizer

This work reports the photocatalytic application of an anthraquinone-containing polymeric photosensitizer (AQ-PHEMA) in the visible light-induced cross - dehydrogenative-coupling of N-aryl tetrahydroisoquinolines with several nucleophiles, including nitromethane, 1-methyl-2-alkyl ketone and dialkyl (aryl) phosphine oxide. The results revealed that the reaction could be catalyzed by AQ-PHEMA efficiently to afford a series of 1-substituted-2-aryl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines in good to excellent yields with nice substrate tolerance under aerobic conditions at room temperature. The practical application potential was also showcased by a gram-scale synthesis. More importantly, the utilization of AQ-PHEMA as a heterogeneous photosensitizer also showed nice recyclability and reusability of the catalyst, whereas AQ-PHEMA can be easily separated and reused for at least 8 times without significant loss of photocatalytic activity.     

Supercritical Carbon Dioxide-Based Processes in Photocatalytic Applications

Conventional methods generally used to synthesize heterogeneous photocatalysts have some drawbacks, mainly the difficult control/preservation of catalysts’ morphology, size or structure, which strongly affect the photocatalytic activity. Supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂)-assisted techniques have recently been shown to be a promising approach to overcome these limitations, which are still a challenge. In addition, compared to traditional methods, these innovative techniques permit the synthesis of high-performance photocatalysts by reducing the use of toxic and polluting solvents and, consequently, the environmental impact of long-term catalyst preparation. Specifically, the versatility of scCO₂ allows to prepare catalysts with different structures (e.g., nanoparticles or metal-loaded supports) by several supercritical processes for the photocatalytic degradation of various compounds. This is the first updated review on the use of scCO₂-assisted techniques for photocatalytic applications. We hope this review provides useful information on different approaches and future perspectives.