Surface-Degenerate Semiconductor Photocatalysis for Efficient Water Splitting without Sacrificial Agents via a Reticular Chemistry Approach

The production of green hydrogen through photocatalytic water splitting is crucial for a sustainable hydrogen economy and chemical manufacturing. However, current approaches suffer from slow hydrogen production (<70 μmol ⋅ g_cat⁻¹ ⋅ h⁻¹) due to the sluggish four-electrons oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and limited catalyst activity. Herein, we achieve efficient photocatalytic water splitting by exploiting a multifunctional interface between a nano-photocatalyst and metal–organic framework (MOF) layer. The functional interface plays two critical roles: (1) enriching electron density directly on photocatalyst surface to promote catalytic activity, and (2) delocalizing photogenerated holes into MOF to enhance OER. Our photocatalytic ensemble boosts hydrogen evolution by ≈100-fold over pristine photocatalyst and concurrently produces oxygen at ideal stoichiometric ratio, even without using sacrificial agents. Notably, this unique design attains superior hydrogen production (519 μmol ⋅ g_cat⁻¹ ⋅ h⁻¹) and apparent quantum efficiency up to 13-fold and 8-fold better than emerging photocatalytic designs utilizing hole scavengers. Comprehensive investigations underscore the vital role of the interfacial design in generating high-energy photoelectrons on surface-degenerate photocatalyst to thermodynamically drive hydrogen evolution, while leveraging the nanoporous MOF scaffold as an effective photohole sink to enhance OER. Our interfacial approach creates vast opportunities for designing next-generation, multifunctional photocatalytic ensembles using reticular chemistry with diverse energy and environmental applications.     

Graphene Mediates Charge Transfer between Lead Chromate and a Cobalt Cubane Cocatalyst for Photocatalytic Water Oxidation

The interfacial barrier of charge transfer from semiconductors to cocatalysts means that the photogenerated charges cannot be fully utilized, especially for the challenging water oxidation reaction. Using cobalt cubane molecules (Co₄O₄) as water oxidation cocatalysts, we rationally assembled partially oxidized graphene (pGO), acting as a charge-transfer mediator, on the hole-accumulating {−101} facets of lead chromate (PbCrO₄) crystal. The assembled pGO enables preferable immobilization of Co₄O₄ molecules on the {−101} facets of the PbCrO₄ crystal, which is favorable for the photogenerated holes transferring from PbCrO₄ to Co₄O₄ molecules. The surface charge-transfer efficiency of PbCrO₄ was boosted by selective assembly of pGO between PbCrO₄ and Co₄O₄ molecules. An apparent quantum efficiency for photocatalytic water oxidation on the Co₄O₄/pGO/PbCrO₄ photocatalyst exceeded 10 % at 500 nm. This strategy of rationally assembling charge-transfer mediator provides a feasible method for acceleration of charge transfer and utilization in semiconductor photocatalysis.     

Super-Oxidizing Covalent Triazine Framework Electrocatalyst for Two-Electron Water Oxidation to H2O2

Electrochemical two-electron water oxidation (2e WOR) is gaining surging research traction for sustainable hydrogen peroxide production. However, the strong oxidizing environment and thermodynamically competitive side-reaction (4e WOR) posit as thresholds for the 2e WOR. We herein report a custom-crafted covalent triazine network possessing strong oxidizing properties as a proof-of-concept metal-free functional organic network electrocatalyst for catalyzing 2e WOR. As the first-of-its-kind, the material shows a maximum of 89.9 % Faradaic Efficiency and 1428 μmol/h/cm² H₂O₂ production rate at 3.0 V bias potential (vs reversible hydrogen electrode, RHE), which are either better or comparable to the state-of-the-art electrocatalysts. We have experimentally confirmed a stepwise 2e WOR mechanism which was further computationally endorsed by density functional theory studies.     

Solid Phase Oxidation of Alcohols and Benzyl Halides to Carbonyls Using Bromate Exchange Resin

Abstract

Aromate exchange resin prepared by a simple elution technique and used for the biphasic oxidation of alcohols and benzyi halides to corresponding carbonyl compounds.     

氧化物钙钛矿的光催化研究进展：CO2还原、水裂解、固氮

At present, more than 80% of the world's energy demand is fulfilled by the burning of fossil fuels, which has caused the production of a large amount of greenhouse gases, leading to global warming and damage to the environment. The high consumption of fossil fuels every year causes the energy crisis to become increasingly serious. Finding a sustainable and pollution-free energy source is therefore essential. Among all forms of energy sources, solar energy is preferred because of its cleanliness and inexhaustible availability. The energy provided by one year of sunlight is more than 100 times the total energy in known fossil fuel reserves worldwide; however, the extent of solar energy currently used by mankind each year is minute; thus developments in solar energy are imperative. To address the urgent need for a renewable energy supply and to solve environmental problems, a variety of technologies in the field of photocatalysis have been developed. Photocatalytic technology has attracted significant attention because of its superior ability to convert clean solar energy into chemical fuels. Among the photocatalytic materials emerging in an endless stream, perovskite oxide, with the general formula of ABO₃, has great potential in the fields of solar cells and photocatalysis as each site can be replaced by a variety of cations. Furthermore, owing to its unique properties such as high activity, robust stability, and facile structure adjustment, perovskite oxide photocatalysts have been widely used in water decomposition, carbon dioxide reduction and conversion, and nitrogen fixation. In terms of carbon dioxide reduction, oxide perovskites can achieve precise band gap and band edge tuning owing to its long charge diffusion length and flexibility in composition. For the development and utilization of solar energy in the environmental field, perovskite oxide and its derivatives (layered perovskite oxide) are used as photocatalysts for water decomposition and environmental remediation. In terms of nitrogen fixation, the conventional Haber-Bosh process for ammonia synthesis, which has been widely used in the past, requires high temperature and high energy. Therefore, we summarize the recent advances in perovskite oxide photocatalysts for nitrogen fixation from the aspect of activating the adsorbed N₂ by weakening the N $ \equiv $N triple bond, promoting charge separation, and accelerating the charge transfer to the active sites to realize the photochemical reaction. Overall, this review article presents the structure and synthesis of perovskite oxide photocatalysis, focusing on the application of photocatalysis in water splitting, carbon dioxide reduction, and nitrogen fixation. This review concludes by presenting the current challenges and future prospects of perovskite oxide photocatalysts.      

Thiophene-Containing Covalent Organic Frameworks for Overall Photocatalytic H2O2 Synthesis in Water and Seawater

H₂O₂ is a significant chemical widely utilized in the environmental and industrial fields, with growing global demand. Without sacrificial agents, simultaneous photocatalyzed H₂O₂ synthesis through the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and water oxidation reaction (WOR) dual channels from seawater is green and sustainable but still challenging. Herein, two novel thiophene-containing covalent organic frameworks (TD-COF and TT-COF) were first constructed and served as catalysts for H₂O₂ synthesis via indirect 2e⁻ ORR and direct 2e⁻ WOR channels. The photocatalytic H₂O₂ production performance can be regulated by adjusting the N-heterocycle modules (pyridine and triazine) in COFs. Notably, with no sacrificial agents, just using air and water as raw materials, TD-COF exhibited high H₂O₂ production yields of 4060 μmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹ and 3364 μmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹ in deionized water and natural seawater, respectively. Further computational mechanism studies revealed that the thiophene was the primary photoreduction unit for ORR, while the benzene ring (linked to the thiophene by the imine bond) was the central photooxidation unit for WOR. The current work exploits thiophene-containing COFs for overall photocatalytic H₂O₂ synthesis via ORR and WOR dual channels and provides fresh insight into creating innovative catalysts for photocatalyzing H₂O₂ synthesis.     

SILAR法制备TiO2/CdS/Co-Pi水氧化光阳极及其性能

采用连续离子层吸附法（SILAR）沉积CdS制备type-Ⅱ异质结TiO₂/CdS光阳极,用光电化学沉积法在TiO₂/CdS表面沉积催化剂（Co-Pi）得到TiO₂/CdS/Co-Pi水氧化光阳极。通过X射线衍射（XRD）仪、扫描电子显微镜（SEM）、X射线光电子能谱（XPS）仪等对样品结构及组成进行分析,证明CdS与Co-Pi已成功负载在TiO₂表面。用已制备的光阳极在中性溶液中模拟水氧化测试,在较低外偏压（0 V（vs Ag/AgCl））和无电子牺牲剂的情况下,即使在可见光照射下,依然得到较高的初始光电流和稳定光电流,分别为1.3和0.5 mA·cm^-2,表明制备的光阳极可以在可见光照下有效地驱动水氧化反应。光电化学池的工作原理为,CdS吸收光子产生光生电子-空穴,TiO₂和Co-Pi分别传输电子和空穴,空穴进行水氧化,电子转移到阴极完成质子还原。     

Oxidation of Thiols to Disulfides by Oxygen in Presence of Cobalt(II) and Manganese(II) Salts of 4-Aminobenzoic Acid Supported on Silica Gel

Summary. A mixture of cobalt(II) and manganese(II) salts of 4-aminobenzoic acid supported on silica gel catalyses the oxidation of thiols to disulfides in the presence of oxygen or air.     

A Molecular Z-Scheme Artificial Photosynthetic System Under the Bias-Free Condition for CO2 Reduction Coupled with Two-electron Water Oxidation: Photocatalytic Production of CO/HCOOH and H2O2

Bio-inspired molecular-engineered systems have been extensively investigated for the half-reactions of H₂O oxidation or CO₂ reduction with sacrificial electron donors/acceptors. However, there has yet to be reported a device for dye-sensitized molecular photoanodes coupled with molecular photocathodes in an aqueous solution without the use of sacrificial reagents. Herein, we will report the integration of Sn^IV- or Al^III-tetrapyridylporphyrin (SnTPyP or AlTPyP) decorated tin oxide particles (SnTPyP/SnO₂ or AlTPyP/SnO₂) photoanode with the dye-sensitized molecular photocathode on nickel oxide particles containing [Ru(diimine)₃]²⁺ as the light-harvesting unit and [Ru(diimine)(CO)₂Cl₂] as the catalyst unit covalently connected and fixed within poly-pyrrole layer (RuCAT-RuC₂-PolyPyr-PRu/NiO). The simultaneous irradiation of the two photoelectrodes with visible light resulted in H₂O₂ on the anode and CO, HCOOH, and H₂ on the cathode with high Faradaic efficiencies in purely aqueous conditions without any applied bias is the first example of artificial photosynthesis with only two-electron redox reactions.     

Photocatalysis with Quantum Dots and Visible Light: Selective and Efficient Oxidation of Alcohols to Carbonyl Compounds through a Radical Relay Process in Water

Selective oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes/ketones has been achieved with the help of 3‐mercaptopropionic acid (MPA)‐capped CdSe quantum dot (MPA‐CdSe QD) and visible light. Visible‐light‐prompted electron‐transfer reaction initiates the oxidation. The thiyl radical generated from the thiolate anion adsorbed on a CdSe QD plays a key role by abstracting the hydrogen atom from the C−H bond of the alcohol (R¹CH(OH)R²). The reaction shows high efficiency, good functional group tolerance, and high site‐selectivity in polyhydroxy compounds. The generality and selectivity reported here offer a new opportunity for further applications of QDs in organic transformations.     

Stabilities and Transfer Activity Coefficients from Water to Polar Nonaqueous Solvents of Benzo-15-Crown-5- and 15-Crown-5-Alkali Metal Ion Complexes

Stability constants (K_ML) of 1 : 1 benzo-15-crown-5 (B15C5) complexes with alkali metal ions were conductometrically measured in water at 25°C. Transfer activity coefficients of B15C5 and 15-crown-5 (15C5) from water to polar nonaqueous solvents were determined at 25°C. By using these data and the literature values, transfer activity coefficients of the B15C5 and 15C5 complexes with alkali metal ions from water to the polar nonaqueous solvents were calculated to study the solute-solvent interaction of the crown ether complexes. The stability of the B15C5 complex is lower in water than in any other nonaqueous solvent. The K_ML value for B15C5 is always smaller than the corresponding K ML value for 15C5. The interaction of the B15C5 or the 15C5 complex with the solvents depends on the alkali metal ion in the crown cavity. All the B15C5 and 15C5 complexes undergo hydrophobic hydration, which is particularly stronger for the B15C5 complexes with Na⁺ and K⁺. The unexpectedly lowest stability of the B15C5- or the 15C5-alkali metal ion complex in water among all the solvents is caused by the hydrogen bonding between ether oxygen atoms of uncomplexed B15C5 or 15C5 and water.