Rapid and Replaceable Luminescent Coating for Silicon-Based Microreactors Enabling Energy-Efficient Solar Photochemistry

Abstract

The sun is the most sustainable source of photons on the earth but is rarely used in photochemical transformations due its relatively low and variable intensity, broad wavelength range, and lack of focus. Luminescent solar concentrator-based photomicroreactors (LSC-PMs) can be an answer to all these issues, but widespread adoption is plagued by challenges associated with their complicated manufacturing. Herein, we developed a new strategy to accelerate and ease the production of LSC-PMs by depositing a thin luminescent film on commercially and widely available silicon-based microreactors. The protocol is fast and operationally simple, and the luminescent coating can be easily removed and replaced. This enables rapid tuning of the luminescent coating to fit the requirements of the photocatalytic system and to increase the photon flux inside the microreactor channels.

Thermal/photochemical micro-flow probe system for direct C–H bond functionalization of biologically active molecules

“…Additionally, adverse weather conditions during monsoon and winter seasons pose a challenge to performing the reaction. 53 Therefore, a combination of solar and artificial light panel reactor system could work in our favour to enhance the system efficiency.…”

Light-assisted carbon dioxide reduction in an automated photoreactor system coupled to carbonylation chemistry

“…Our investigation primarily focused on commercially available microchannel photoreactors, well-suited for continuous-flow reactions within our experimental framework. 42,43 These reactors were filled with an immobilized catalyst, uniformly coated onto glass beads (Figure 1b, Supplementary Information), creating a packed-bed system. 44,45 This configuration facilitated a large irradiation area and ensured reproducible packing, enhancing the reliability of our experimental setup.…”

What’s new in flow biocatalysis? A snapshot of 2020–2022

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