Solar Reforming of Biomass with Homogeneous Carbon Dots

Abstract

A sunlight‐powered process is reported that employs carbon dots (CDs) as light absorbers for the conversion of lignocellulose into sustainable H2 fuel and organics. This photocatalytic system operates in pure and untreated sea water at benign pH (2–8) and ambient temperature and pressure. The CDs can be produced in a scalable synthesis directly from biomass itself and their solubility allows for good interactions with the insoluble biomass substrates. They also display excellent photophysical properties with a high fraction of long‐lived charge carriers and the availability of a reductive and an oxidative quenching pathway. The presented CD‐based biomass photoconversion system opens new avenues for sustainable, practical, and renewable fuel production through biomass valorization.

Modulating charge carriers in carbon dots toward efficient solar‐to‐energy conversion

“…Achilleos et al 92 employed CDs as light absorbers, along with a nickel (Ni) bis(disphosphine) H 2 evolution cocatalyst (NiP) for the conversion of biomass into renewable H 2 and organics (Figure 7C). The CDs exhibit two characteristics for efficient photocatalysis: (i) the presence of both oxidative and reductive quenching mechanisms, and (ii) slow bimolecular recombination and higher yields of long-lived carriers.…”

Unconventional Photocatalysis in Conductive Polymers: Reversible Modulation of PEDOT:PSS Conductivity by Long‐Lived Poly(Heptazine Imide) Radicals

“…The employment of polymers as substrates for photocatalytic transformations has been explored significantly less [29] . Prominent examples are solar reforming of biopolymers and nonrecyclable plastics [30–33] . Conductive polymers are a versatile platform for designing smart materials as the electrical conductivity of the polymer follows a multitude of external physical stimuli that naturally finds application in sensing [34–37] .…”

“…[29] Prominent examples are solar reforming of biopolymers and nonrecyclable plastics. [30][31][32][33] Conductive polymers are av ersatile platform for designing smart materials as the electrical conductivity of the polymer follows am ultitude of external physical stimuli that naturally finds application in sensing. [34][35][36][37] Owing to its nontoxicity, [38] flexibility,w ater-solubility,p rocessability,a nd commercial availability,p-type conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) is of great interest in the construction of functional composites and devices.I na ddition, 3D printing of PEDOT:PSS facilitates development of complex conductive patterns.…”

Unkonventionelle Photokatalyse in leitfähigen Polymeren: Reversible Modulation der Leitfähigkeit von PEDOT:PSS durch langlebige Polyheptazinimid‐Radikale

“…Der Gebrauch von Polymeren als Substrate für photokatalytische Umwandlungen ist deutlich weniger erforscht [29] . Prominente Beispiele sind die solare Reformierung von Biopolymeren und nicht recycelbaren Kunststoffen [30–33] . Leitfähige Polymere bieten eine vielseitige Plattform für das Design von intelligenten Materialien, da die elektrische Leitfähigkeit des Polymers einer Vielzahl von externen physikalischen Reizen folgt, was oft Anwendung in der Sensorik findet [34–37] .…”