Bisimidazole-functionalized cobaltoporphyrin acted as efficient bifunctional catalysts to facilitate the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from epoxides and CO2.

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Two series dyes of azo-bridged zinc porphyrins have been devised, synthesized, and performed in dye-sensitized solar cells, in which salicylic acids and azo groups were introduced as a new anchoring group and π-conjugated bridge via a simple synthetic procedure. The representation of the new dyes has been investigated by optical, photovoltaic, and electrochemical means. The photoelectric conversion efficiency of their DSSC devices has been improved compared with other DSSC devices sensitized by symmetrical porphyrin dyes. The results revealed that tridentate binding modes between salicylic acid and TiO2 nanoparticles could enhance the efficiency of electron injection. The binding modes between salicylic acid and TiO2 nanoparticles may play a crucial role in the photovoltaic performance of DSSCs.

Three new zinc porphyrin dyes attached to ethynyl benzoic acid as an electron transmission and anchoring group have been designed, synthesized, and well-characterized. The performances of their sensitized solar cells have been investigated by optical, photovoltaic, and electrochemical methods. The photoelectric conversion efficiency of the solar cells sensitized by the dye with salicylic acid as an anchoring group demonstrated obvious enhancement when compared with that sensitized by the dye with carboxylic acid as an anchoring group. The density functional theory calculations and the electrochemical impedance spectroscopies revealed that tridentate binding modes could increase the efficiency of electron injection from dyes to the TiO2 nanoparticles by more electron pathways.

Photoelectrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) toward H 2 O 2 is highly desirable because only sunlight, O 2 and water are required in the process. However, the corresponding studies are still at its infancy because of the lack of suitable photocathodes, especially inorganic semiconductor photocathodes. In this work, we report CuBi 2 O 4 /CuO (CBO/CuO) heterojunction submicrocrystalline film photocathodes with efficient ORR activity for H 2 O 2 production. The heterojunction film photocathodes were prepared through thermal evaporation of Cu and Bi metals under vacuum and subsequent annealing treatment. Furthermore, the doping of Gd 3+ ions into CBO/CuO could significantly enhance the yield of H 2 O 2 . As a result, the concentration of H 2 O 2 could reach 1.3 mM within 30 min, which is 6 times higher than that obtained on the pristine CBO/CuO photocathode. The theoretical calculations suggested that the introduction of Gd could adjust the electronic structure of CBO surface and promote 2e ORR pathway for selective production of H 2 O 2 . Our work not only provides a new strategy for designing highly efficient photocathode for H 2 O 2 production but also will evoke more interest in photoelectrocatalytic ORR through inorganic semiconductor photocathode.

We report new D–A–π–A dyes gained by molecular engineering for DSSCs, achieving a highest photoelectric conversion efficiency of 6.35%.

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