Multifunctional Polyoxometalate Platforms for Supramolecular Light-Driven Hydrogen Evolution**

Multifunctional supramolecular systems are a central research topic in light-driven solar energy conversion. Here, we report a polyoxometalate (POM)-based supramolecular dyad, where two platinum-complex hydrogen evolution catalysts are covalently anchored to an Anderson polyoxomolybdate anion. Supramolecular electrostatic coupling of the system to an iridium photosensitizer enables visible light-driven hydrogen evolution. Combined theory and experiment demonstrate the multifunctionality of the POM, which acts as photosensitizer/catalyst-binding-site^[1] and facilitates light-induced charge-transfer and catalytic turnover. Chemical modification of the Pt-catalyst site leads to increased hydrogen evolution reactivity. Mechanistic studies shed light on the role of the individual components and provide a molecular understanding of the interactions which govern stability and reactivity. The system could serve as a blueprint for multifunctional polyoxometalates in energy conversion and storage.     

Light-Driven Active Ion Transport

Solar energy can be harvested by biological systems to regulate the directional transport of protons and ions across cells and organelles. Structural and functional bio-mimic photo-active ion nanofluidic conductors, usually in the forms of ion channels and ion pumps, have been increasingly applied to realize active ion transport. However, progress in attaining effective light-driven active transport of ions (protons) has been constrained by the inherent limitations of membrane materials and their chemical and topological structures. Recent advances in the construction of photo-responsive physical ion pump in all-solid-state membranes could potentially lead to new classes of membrane-based materials for active ion transport. In this concept, the development of the state-of-the-art technologies for manufacturing artificial light-driven active ion transport systems are presented and discussed, which mainly involves the utilization of solar energy to realize two types of active ion transport, chemically and physically active ion transport. Afterward, we summarize the key factors towards culminating highly effective and selective membranes for active ion transport. To conclude, we highlight the promising application perspectives of this light-driven active ion transport technique in the field of energy conversion, bio-interfaces and water treatment.     

Artificial photosynthesis: from molecular catalysts for light-driven water splitting to photoelectrochemical cells

Photosynthesis has been for many years a fascinating source of inspiration for the development of model systems able to achieve efficient light-to-chemical energetic transduction. This field of research, called "artificial photosynthesis," is currently the subject of intense interest, driven by the aim of converting solar energy into the carbon-free fuel hydrogen through the light-driven water splitting. In this review, we highlight the recent achievements on light-driven water oxidation and hydrogen production by molecular catalysts and we shed light on the perspectives in terms of implementation into water splitting technological devices.     

The possible role of proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) in water oxidation by photosystem II

All higher life forms use oxygen and respiration as their primary energy source. The oxygen comes from water by solar-energy conversion in photosynthetic membranes. In green plants, light absorption in photosystem II (PSII) drives electron-transfer activation of the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC). The mechanism of water oxidation by the OEC has long been a subject of great interest to biologists and chemists. With the availability of new molecular-level protein structures from X-ray crystallography and EXAFS, as well as the accumulated results from numerous experiments and theoretical studies, it is possible to suggest how water may be oxidized at the OEC. An integrated sequence of light-driven reactions that exploit coupled electron-proton transfer (EPT) could be the key to water oxidation. When these reactions are combined with long-range proton transfer (by sequential local proton transfers), it may be possible to view the OEC as an intricate structure that is "wired for protons".     

Light-driven hydrogen production by a hybrid complex of a [NiFe]-hydrogenase and the cyanobacterial photosystem I

In order to generate renewable and clean fuels, increasing efforts are focused on the exploitation of photosynthetic microorganisms for the production of molecular hydrogen from water and light. In this study we engineered a 'hard-wired' protein complex consisting of a hydrogenase and photosystem I (hydrogenase-PSI complex) as a direct light-to-hydrogen conversion system. The key component was an artificial fusion protein composed of the membrane-bound [NiFe] hydrogenase from the beta-proteobacterium Ralstonia eutropha H16 and the peripheral PSI subunit PsaE of the cyanobacterium Thermosynechococcus elongatus. The resulting hydrogenase-PsaE fusion protein associated with PsaE-free PSI spontaneously, thereby forming a hydrogenase-PSI complex as confirmed by sucrose-gradient ultracentrifuge and immunoblot analysis. The hydrogenase-PSI complex displayed light-driven hydrogen production at a rate of 0.58 mumol H(2).mg chlorophyll(-1).h(-1). The complex maintained its accessibility to the native electron acceptor ferredoxin. This study provides the first example of a light-driven enzymatic reaction by an artificial complex between a redox enzyme and photosystem I and represents an important step on the way to design a photosynthetic organism that efficiently converts solar energy and water into hydrogen.     

Integrating bimetallic AuPd nanocatalysts with a 2D aza-fused π-conjugated microporous polymer for light-driven benzyl alcohol oxidation

Efficient catalytic system with low energy consumption exhibits increasing importance due to the upcoming energy crisis.Given this situation,it should be an admirable strategy for reducing energy input by effectively utilizing incident solar energy as a heat source during catalytic reactions.Herein,aza-fused7 r-conjugated microporous polymer(aza-CMP)with broad light absorption and high photothermal conversion efficiency was synthesized and utilized as a support for bimetallic AuPd nanocatalysts in light-driven benzyl alcohol oxidation.The AuPd nanoparticles anchored on aza-CMP(aza-CM P/Au_xPdy)exhibited excellent catalytic performance for benzyl alcohol oxidation under 50 mW/cm^2 light irradiation.The improved catalytic performance by the aza-CMP/Au_xPdy is attributed to the unique photothermal effect induced by aza-CMP,which can promote the catalytic benzyl alcohol oxidation occurring at Au Pd.This work presents a novel approach to effectively utilize solar energy for conventional catalytic reactions through photothermal effect.     

Building Polyoxometalate “Nano-Walls” on 3D Porous Carbon Paper: A Solar Steam Generation System for Water Purification

As promising fresh-water purification devices, solar steam generation systems have attracted significant attention recently. However, in practice, the approach often suffers from a poor solar energy conversion efficiency and a low water production rate due to poor material selection and inefficient microscopic structure design. Here, we fabricate an efficient solar steam generation system by “building” polyoxometalate “nano-walls” on rice paper-derived three-dimensional porous carbon paper. In this solar steam generation system, the height of the vertically aligned CoP₄Mo₆ “nano-walls” range from 100 to 150 nm with thicknesses about 15 to 25 nm. Under 1 sun irradiation (1 sun = 1 kW m⁻²), the surface temperature increases from 29 to 50 °C in a short time with a solar thermal conversion efficiency achieving 92.8 %. The stability and durability of this solar steam generation system, which withstands fifteen cycle continuous tests, also offer good prospects. Its attractive solar energy conversion performance originates from the intense sunlight absorption and high conversion ability of the CoP₄Mo₆ “nano-walls”, as well as extremely promising heat localization and water transportation properties of the three-dimensional porous carbon paper. This solar steam generation system, which has produced some inspiring results, is employed for seawater desalination and for purification of water polluted with organic dyes.     

从液态阳光人工光合成淀粉

人工光合成是利用太阳能等可再生能源通过连续催化反应将水和二氧化碳转化为液态燃料的过程,是减少二氧化碳排放、实现绿色低碳发展的一种重要方法.人工光合成的目标产物不仅包括二氧化碳转化与利用得到的能源小分子,还包括淀粉和蛋白质等生物基大分子.在自然光合作用中,高等植物、绿藻和蓝细菌首先利用太阳能将水氧化放出氧气并产生还原型辅...     

太阳能分解水制氢最近进展:光催化、光电催化及光伏-光电耦合途径

能源是人类生存和发展的物质基础,太阳能作为最丰富的清洁可再生能源之一,其开发利用受到了世界范围内的广泛关注.通过光催化分解水制氢将太阳能以化学能的形式储存起来不仅能利用太阳能制取高燃烧值的氢能,同时氢能可与CO2综合利用结合起来,在减少碳排放的同时,生成高附加值的化学品,实现碳氢资源的优化利用.光催化分解水制氢在过去的几年里取得了长足的进步,本综述从三种研究广泛的太阳能光催化分解水制氢途径(即光催化、光电催化以及光伏-光电耦合途径)入手,分别简要介绍了太阳能分解水制氢在近几年取得的最新研究进展.利用纳米粒子悬浮体系进行光催化分解水制氢成本低廉、易于规模化放大,被认为是未来应用最可行的方式之一,但是太阳能转化利用效率还偏低.最新报道的SrTiO3:La,Rh/Au/BiVO4:Mo光催化剂其太阳能到氢能(STH)转化效率已超过了1.0%,相比之前报道的大多数光催化剂体系有了数量级的飞跃,让人们对太阳能光催化分解水制氢未来的规模化应用看到了希望.高效宽光谱响应的光催化剂、高效电荷分离策略、新型高效助催化剂以及气体分离新方法和新材料等,均是粉末光催化剂体系研究最为关键的问题;光电催化分解水在过去2–3年内发展迅速,在一些典型的光阳极半导体材料(如BiVO4和Ta3N5等)体系上太阳能利用效率超过2.0%以上.最新研究发现,在Ta3N5光阳极的研究中,通过在光电极表面合理设计和构筑空穴传输层和电子阻挡层等策略,光电流和电极稳定性均可得到大幅度提升,光电流大小甚至可接近Ta3N5材料的理论极限电流.如果能进一步在过电位和电极稳定性上取得突破,该体系的STH转化效率还会得到大幅度改进.此外,光阴极的研究也越来越受到了研究者的关注;光伏-光电耦合体系在三种途径里面太阳能制氢效率最高,在多个体系上已超过10%以上,最近报道的利用多结GaInP/GaAs/Ge电池与Ni电催化剂耦合,其太阳能制氢效率可达到22.4%.虽然该种制氢途径的效率已超过其工业化应用的要求,但是光伏电池的成本(尤其是多结GaAs太阳电池)极大限制了其大面积规模化应用,同时还要考虑电催化剂的成本和效率等,光伏-光电耦合制氢是成本最高的太阳能制氢途径.需要指出的是,光伏-光电耦合制氢有望在一些特殊的领域最先取得实际应用,如为外太空航天器、远洋航海以及孤立海岛等传统能源无法满足的地方提供能源供给.总之,太阳能分解水制氢研究取得了一系列重要进展,太阳能制氢效率得到了大幅度提升,也是目前世界范围内关注的研究热点之一,不仅具有强的潜在工业应用背景,更为基础科学提供了诸多新的研究课题.这一极具挑战的研究领域,在先进技术快速发展和基础科学问题认识不断提高的基础上,不久的将来,有望在不久的将来在基础科学和应用研究方面取得重大突破.     

Branched ZnO nanostructures as building blocks of photoelectrodes for efficient solar energy conversion

ZnO nanotetrapods are distinguished by their unique nanocrystalline geometric form with four tetrahedrally directed arms, which endows them the ability to handily assemble three-dimensional network structures. Such network structures, coupled with the intrinsically excellent electronic properties of the semiconducting ZnO, have proved advantageous for building photoelectrodes in energy conversion devices since they allow fast vectorial electron transport. In this review article, we summarize recent efforts, with partial emphasis on our own, in the development of ZnO nanotetrapod-based devices for solar energy conversion, including dye-sensitized solar cells and photoelectrochemical cells for water splitting. A pure ZnO nanotetrapod network was firstly demonstrated to have excellent charge collection properties even with just physical contacts. Composition design of ZnO nanotetrapods/SnO(2) nanoparticles yielded a high efficiency of 4.91% in flexible DSSCs. More significantly, by secondary branching and nitrogen doping, a record performance for water splitting has been achieved. A perspective on future research directions in ZnO nanotetrapod-based solar energy conversion devices is also discussed together with possible strategies of pursuit. It is hoped that the results obtained so far with the ZnO nanotetrapods could inspire and catalyze future developments of solar energy conversion systems based on branched nanostructural materials, contributing to solving global energy and environmental issues.     

光催化全解水助催化剂的设计与构建

能源和环境危机是当今社会面临的两大关键课题,利用太阳光驱动化学反应、将太阳能转化为化学能是解决上述问题的重要措施。通过光催化分解水是直接利用太阳能生产氢燃料的有效策略。光催化水分解过程可以分为三个基元步骤:光吸收、电荷分离与迁移、以及表面氧化还原反应。助催化剂可有效提高电荷分离效率、提供反应活性位点并抑制催化剂光腐蚀的发生,进而提高水分解效率。助催化剂也可以通过活化水分子以提高表面氧化还原动力学,进而提升整体光催化反应的太阳能转换效率。本文综述了助催化剂在光催化反应中的重要作用以及目前常用的助催化剂类型,详细说明了在光催化全解水过程中双助催化剂体系的构建及作用机理,并根据限制全解水的关键因素提出了新型助催化剂的设计策略。     

Design approach of a density-driven solar water heater system

Energy conservation continues to play a crucial role in social and economic development. With the remarkable increase in oil prices and exploring solutions for the replacement of fossil fuels, an ecofriendly energy resource has become the priority among more and more people. Keeping the intension for reducing the global warming impact and looking for alternative clean source of energy, solar energy applications such as solar thermal systems, solar water heating and cooling are becoming energy-efficient designs. One of the widely used applications of solar energy is solar water heating systems. Low-cost solar water heaters can cover the domestic needs for water in the range of 100–200 l per day. Solar water heating systems are generally more efficient and advantageous in hot areas. However, the application of solar water heating is still a challenge in winter and sub-zero conditions, having low solar irradiance. In such conditions, solar water heating system cannot produce enough energy, which drives a need for evaluating system component design and improves its performance during low ambient conditions. In this study, detailed design methods for solar water heater components are discussed for cold regions like North Dakota, USA. The type of system chosen in this study is natural circulation-based solar water heating system. The study will also compare the experimental data with previously conducted numerical analysis.

     

Water oxidation catalysed by manganese compounds: from complexes to 'biomimetic rocks'

One of the most fundamental processes of the natural photosynthetic reaction sequence is the light-driven oxidation of water to molecular oxygen. In vivo, this reaction takes place in the large protein ensemble Photosystem II, where a μ-oxido-Mn(4)Ca- cluster, the oxygen-evolving-complex (OEC), has been identified as the catalytic site for the four-electron/four-proton redox reaction of water oxidation. This Perspective presents recent progress for three strategies which have been followed to prepare functional synthetic analogues of the OEC: (1) the synthesis of dinuclear manganese complexes designed to act as water-oxidation catalysts in homogeneous solution, (2) heterogeneous catalysts in the form of clay hybrids of such Mn(2)-complexes and (3) the preparation of manganese oxide particles of different compositions and morphologies. We discuss the key observations from the studies of such synthetic manganese systems in order to shed light upon the catalytic mechanism of natural water oxidation. Additionally, it is shown how research in this field has recently been motivated more and more by the prospect of finding efficient, robust and affordable catalysts for light-driven water oxidation, a key reaction of artificial photosynthesis. As manganese is an abundant and non-toxic element, manganese compounds are very promising candidates for the extraction of reduction equivalents from water. These electrons could consecutively be fed into the synthesis of "solar fuels" such as hydrogen or methanol.     

Biomimetic multifunctional porous chalcogels as solar fuel catalysts

Biological systems that can capture and store solar energy are rich in a variety of chemical functionalities, incorporating light-harvesting components, electron-transfer cofactors, and redox-active catalysts into one supramolecule. Any artificial mimic of such systems designed for solar fuels production will require the integration of complex subunits into a larger architecture. We present porous chalcogenide frameworks that can contain both immobilized redox-active Fe(4)S(4) clusters and light-harvesting photoredox dye molecules in close proximity. These multifunctional gels are shown to electrocatalytically reduce protons and carbon disulfide. In addition, incorporation of a photoredox agent into the chalcogels is shown to photochemically produce hydrogen. The gels have a high degree of synthetic flexibility, which should allow for a wide range of light-driven processes relevant to the production of solar fuels.     

THERMODYNAMIC AND KINETIC LIMITATIONS ON THE CONVERSION OF SOLAR ENERGY INTO STORABLE CHEMICAL FREE-ENERGY

Abstract— Energy-storing reactions in a system after light excitation transform the system into a thermo-dynamically metastable state. The effects of the microreversible back-reaction on the net yield of the storage process and on the stability of the products are discussed. It is shown that the inevitable losses of photon energy in the conversion process may be estimated and considered as roughly independent of the threshold frequency of the system. The best attainable conversion efficiency as a function of the threshold absorption wavelength may then be estimated. Rough calculations show an ultimate efficiency of about 20% with the optimum threshold wavelength in the range 600–800 nm.
Photochemical production of fuel, like hydrogen from water, requires that more than one photon of the solar spectrum is used per product molecule formed. The low photon density of sunlight leads to troublesome stability requirements on the intermediates in the reaction mechanism. Some features of consecutive two-photon mechanisms in organized systems and homogenous solutions are discussed.     

基于多金属氧酸盐催化剂的光驱动产氢研究进展

能源和环境问题是21世纪人类面临的两个巨大挑战.鉴于此,为了实现人类社会的可持续发展,寻求能够替代化石能源的安全无污染可再生能源已迫在眉睫.太阳光驱动水分解是实现太阳能转化生产清洁可再生氢能的理想方法,其分解产物氢气和氧气在燃烧释放能量的同时生成洁净无污染的可饮用水,实现了完美的可持续能量循环,对于解决当今全球面临的能源危机与环境污染问题具有巨大的应用价值.然而,长期以来光驱动水分解所面临的巨大难题是半反应动力学非常缓慢,通常需要克服较高的能量势垒,导致整体能量转化效率低.利用非贵金属制备高催化效能、低成本的水分解催化材料成为该领域的研究热点和难点.目前,已报道的光驱动产氢催化剂可以被归纳为两大类:均相催化剂和异相催化剂.均相催化剂通常具备高催化活性、高选择性以及易于进行机理研究等优点,而异相催化剂则具备廉价、易得和高稳定性等优点;然而它们也存在一些不容忽视的问题,如均相催化剂的低稳定性、易分解失活,异相催化剂表面易被毒化失活、低催化转化数及转化频率等.如何设计合成兼具二者优点的产氢催化剂吸引了领域内研究者的广泛关注.作为一类新兴的多电子转移催化剂,多金属氧酸盐因其丰富多样的合成策略以及高度可调的物理化学及光化学性质,已被广泛用于催化水分解制氢气研究.该类多金属氧酸盐催化剂具备了介于均相分子化合物和异相金属氧化物之间的结构,这种独特的结构赋予它们同时具备均相分子催化剂的高活性、高选择性、高可控性、易于进行机理性研究等优点,又具备异相金属氧化物催化剂的廉价易得及稳定性高等优势.随着研究的开展,基于多金属氧酸盐的光催化产氢体系已由当初的贵金属辅助逐渐转变为丰产元素参与,光源的选择方面也从与太阳光谱匹配度低的紫外光转变为可见光.本文对30多年来基于多金属氧酸盐催化剂的光驱动产氢成果进行了综述,主要包括有/无贵金属辅助的多金属氧酸盐,多酸@金属有机框架复合物,多酸-半导体复合材料在紫外光或可见光条件下的光催化产氢研究;同时讨论总结了不同类型催化体系的反应机理;并对该领域的未来发展趋势及研究方向进行了展望.     

Visible-light photocurrent response of TiO2-polyheptazine hybrids: evidence for interfacial charge-transfer absorption

We investigated photoelectrodes based on TiO(2)-polyheptazine hybrid materials. Since both TiO(2) and polyheptazine are extremely chemically stable, these materials are highly promising candidates for fabrication of photoanodes for water photooxidation. The properties of the hybrids were experimentally determined by a careful analysis of optical absorption spectra, luminescence properties and photoelectrochemical measurements, and corroborated by quantum chemical calculations. We provide for the first time clear experimental evidence for the formation of an interfacial charge-transfer complex between polyheptazine (donor) and TiO(2) (acceptor), which is responsible for a significant red shift of absorption and photocurrent response of the hybrid as compared to both of the single components. The direct optical charge transfer from the HOMO of polyheptazine to the conduction band edge of TiO(2) gives rise to an absorption band centered at 2.3 eV (540 nm). The estimated potential of photogenerated holes (+1.7 V vs. NHE, pH 7) allows for photooxidation of water (+0.82 V vs. NHE, pH 7) as evidenced by visible light-driven (λ > 420 nm) evolution of dioxygen on hybrid electrodes modified with IrO(2) nanoparticles as a co-catalyst. The quantum-chemical simulations demonstrate that the TiO(2)-polyheptazine interface is a complex and flexible system energetically favorable for proton-transfer processes required for water oxidation. Apart from water splitting, this type of hybrid materials may also find further applications in a broader research area of solar energy conversion and photo-responsive devices.     

Recent Advances in the Research of Photo-Assisted Lithium-Based Rechargeable Batteries

The application of solar energy is crucial for alleviating the energy crisis and achieving sustainable development. In recent years, photo-assisted rechargeable batteries have attracted researchers because they can directly convert and store solar energy in the batteries. And it also can be used like a normal battery without light illumination. Photo-assisted lithium-based batteries have received more attention than other energy storage systems due to their higher energy density and relatively mature development. This Review focuses on the design of various photo-assisted lithium-based batteries including Li-ion, Li-S, Li-O₂, Li-CO₂ and Li-I batteries, as well as the working mechanism of photoelectrodes in these battery systems. The basic understanding and challenge of photo-assisted lithium-based batteries are also discussed. At last, perspectives for the photoelectrode development are provided in the summary to advance photo-assisted energy storage systems.     

Organische Solarzellen. Energie der Zukunft

Photovoltaic solar cells are of increasing importance in the use of regenerative energies due to the high supply of solar radiation. Therefore beside the established inorganic solar cells more low costs solar cells are developed which contain organic materials as active compounds for energy conversion. The article describes construction and function of dye‐sensitized solar cells and organic solid state solar cells. For comparison and understanding of these cells it is necessary to mention also some aspects of photosynthesis and inorganic solar cells. Altogether an insight in solar energy conversion systems under consideration of current developments is presented.     

Triplet–Triplet Annihilation Upconversion for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

The solar generation of hydrogen by water splitting provides a promising path for renewable hydrogen production and solar energy storage. Upconversion of low-energy photons into high-energy photons constitutes a promising strategy to enhance the light harvesting efficiency of artificial hydrogen production systems. In the present study, upconversion micelles are integrated with Cd_0.5Zn_0.5S to construct solar energy conversion systems. The upconversion micelle is employed to upconvert red photons to cyan photons. Cd_0.5Zn_0.5S is sensitized by upconverted cyan light to produce hydrogen, but not by incident red light without triplet–triplet annihilation upconversion (TTA-UC). The performance of the upconversion photocatalytic system was dramatically affected by the concentration of Cd_0.5Zn_0.5S and the irradiation intensity. This novel system was able to produce about 2.3 μL hydrogen after 5 h of red light (629 nm) irradiation (2.4 mW cm⁻²). The present study provides a candidate for applications using low-energy photons for solar hydrogen generation.