The recent thrust in utilizing atomically precise organic ligands protected gold clusters (Au clusters) as photosensitizer coupled with semiconductors for nano-catalysts has led to the claims of improved efficiency in photocatalysis. Nonetheless, the influence of photo-stability of organic ligands protected-Au clusters at the Au/semiconductor interface on the photocatalytic properties remains rather elusive. Taking Au clusters–TiO2 composites as a prototype, we for the first time demonstrate the photo-induced transformation of small molecular-like Au clusters to larger metallic Au nanoparticles under different illumination conditions, which leads to the diverse photocatalytic reaction mechanism. This transformation process undergoes a diffusion/aggregation mechanism accompanied with the onslaught of Au clusters by active oxygen species and holes resulting from photo-excited TiO2 and Au clusters. However, such Au clusters aggregation can be efficiently inhibited by tuning reaction conditions. This work would trigger rational structural design and fine condition control of organic ligands protected-metal clusters-semiconductor composites for diverse photocatalytic applications with long-term photo-stability.

Photocatalysis is a promising and convenient strategy to convert solar energy into chemical energy for various fields. However, photocatalysis still suffers from low solar energy conversion efficiency. Developing state of the art photocatalysts with high efficiency and low cost is a huge challenge. Transition metal nitrides (TMNs) as a class of metallic interstitial compounds have attracted significant attention in photocatalytic applications. In fact, TMNs exhibit multifunctional properties in various photocatalytic systems. This review is the first attempt that summarizes recent research on TMNs‐based materials in various photocatalytic applications. Different roles of TMNs materials in photocatalytic systems including semiconductor active components, co‐catalysts, inter‐band excitation, and surface plasmon resonance components are systematically discussed and summarized. The fundamentals, latest progress, and emerging opportunities for further improving the performances of TMNs‐based materials for photocatalysis are also discussed. Finally, some challenges facing TMNs, and perspectives on their future that are relevant for furthering research in the area of photocatalysis are also proposed.

The synergistic effect of ternary chromium-titanium nitride significantly promotes photocatalytic hydrogen production of cadmium sulfide.

As a consequence of rapid industrialization throughout the world, various environmental pollutants have begun to accumulate in water, air, and soil. This endangers the ecological environment of the earth, and environmental remediation has become an immediate priority. Among various environmental remediation techniques, piezocatalytic techniques, which uniquely take advantage of the piezoelectric effect, have attracted much attention. Piezoelectric effects allow pollutant degradation directly, while also enhancing photocatalysis by reducing the recombination of photogenerated carriers. In this Review, we provide a comprehensive summary of recent developments in piezocatalytic techniques for environmental remediation. The origin of the piezoelectric effect as well as classification of piezoelectric materials and their application in environmental remediation are systematically summarized. We also analyze the potential underlying mechanisms. Finally, urgent problems and the future development of piezocatalytic techniques are discussed.

Metal-support interaction strongly influences the catalytic properties of metal-based catalysts.Here, titanium nitride (TiN) nanospheres are shown to be an outstanding support, for tuning the electronic property of platinum (Pt) nanoparticles and adjusting the morphology of indium sulfide (In 2 S 3 ) active components, forming flower-like core-shell nanostructures (TiN-Pt@In 2 S 3 ).The strong metal-support interaction between Pt and TiN through the formation of Pt-Ti bonds favours the migration of charge carrier and leads to the easy reducibility of TiN-Pt, thus improving the photocatalytic atom efficiency of Pt. The TiN-Pt@In 2 S 3 composite shows reduction of Pt loading by 70% compared to the optimal Pt-based system. Besides, the optimal TiN-Pt@In 2 S 3 composite exhibits H 2 evolution rate 4 times that of a Pt reference. This increase outperforms all other supports reported thus far.

A new means of producing MOF derived TMN materials, which in conjunction with suitable dyes, offer high-efficiency and low-cost avenues for making photocatalysts for hydrogen production.

Solar energy harnessing and conversion has attracted considerable research interest. Photo(electro)catalysis based approaches offers one of the ways for forward. In recent times, cobalt-based nitrides, with their excellent catalytic properties...

Prussian blue analogue (PBA)-derived porous ternary metallic nitride (Ni3FeN) has been successfully prepared through a simple two-step oxidation–rapid nitridation process and used for the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction. The porous structure of the Ni3FeN nanocube contributes to the adsorption of the Eosin-Y photosensitizer, while also ensuring sufficient exposed active sites. This aids in improved reaction kinetics of the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction. Moreover, the superior conductivity of ternary Ni3FeN promotes the transfer of charge carriers excited from Eosin-Y, which also promotes the photocatalytic performances of Ni3FeN/Eosin-Y systems. When used with Eosin-Y as a dye photosensitizer, the porous ternary Ni3FeN nanocube exhibits superior performance, which is more than 3.45, 3.83, and 1.31 times higher than that of the PBA, NiFeO x , and Prussian blue-derived Fe3N samples. The Ni3FeN catalyst exhibits an optimal H2 production rate of 16.96 mmol g–1 h–1, with an apparent quantum efficiency of ∼3.03% at 520 nm excitation wavelength.