Solar-heating catalysis has the potential to realize zero artificial energy consumption, which is restricted by the low ambient solar heating temperatures of photothermal materials. Here, we propose the concept of using heterostructures of black photothermal materials (such as Bi2Te3) and infrared insulating materials (Cu) to elevate solar heating temperatures. Consequently, the heterostructure of Bi2Te3 and Cu (Bi2Te3/Cu) increases the 1 sun-heating temperature of Bi2Te3 from 93 °C to 317 °C by achieving the synergy of 89% solar absorption and 5% infrared radiation. This strategy is applicable for various black photothermal materials to raise the 1 sun-heating temperatures of Ti2O3, Cu2Se, and Cu2S to 295 °C, 271 °C, and 248 °C, respectively. The Bi2Te3/Cu-based device is able to heat CuOx/ZnO/Al2O3 nanosheets to 305 °C under 1 sun irradiation, and this system shows a 1 sun-driven hydrogen production rate of 310 mmol g−1 h−1 from methanol and water, at least 6 times greater than that of all solar-driven systems to date, with 30.1% solar-to-hydrogen efficiency and 20-day operating stability. Furthermore, this system is enlarged to 6 m2 to generate 23.27 m3/day of hydrogen under outdoor sunlight irradiation in the spring, revealing its potential for industrial manufacture.
Nitrogen fixation is essential for all forms of life, as nitrogen is required to biosynthesize fundamental building blocks of creatures, plants, and other life forms. As the main method of artificial nitrogen fixation, Haber–Bosch process (ammonia synthesis) has been supporting the agriculture and chemical industries since the 1910s. However, the disadvantages inherent to the Haber–Bosch process, such as high energy consumption and high emissions, cannot be ignored. Therefore, developing a green nitrogen fixation process has always been a research hotspot. Among the various technologies, plasma-assisted nitrogen fixation technology is very promising due to its small scale, mild reaction conditions, and flexible parameters. In the present work, the basic principles of plasma nitrogen fixation technology and its associated research progress are reviewed. The production efficiency of various plasmas is summarized and compared. Eventually, the prospect of nitrogen fixation using low-temperature plasma in the future was proposed.
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