The development of luminescent solar concentrator-based photomicroreactors: a cheap reactor enabling efficient solar-powered photochemistry

Abstract

Sunlight strikes our planet every day with more energy than we consume in an entire year. Therefore, many researchers have explored ways to efficiently harvest and use sunlight energy for the activation of organic molecules. However, implementation of this energy source in the large-scale production of fine chemicals has been mostly neglected. The use of solar energy for chemical transformations suffers from potential drawbacks including scattering, reflections, cloud shading and poor matches between the solar emission and absorption characteristics of the photochemical reaction. In this account, we provide an overview of our efforts to overcome these issues through the development of Luminescent Solar Concentrator-based PhotoMicroreactors (LSC-PM). Such reactors can efficiently convert solar energy with a broad spectral distribution to concentrated and wavelength-shifted irradiation which matches the absorption maximum of the photocatalyst. Hence, the use of these conceptually new photomicroreactors provides an increased solar light harvesting capacity, enabling efficient solar-powered photochemistry. Graphical abstract

A solar tracker integrated microreactor for real-time sunlight induced ketene formation and API synthesis

“…After the successful development of the solar panel reactor and optimizing the solar light induced Wolff rearrangement reaction conditions under fluctuating light, we were further interested in exploring the feasibility of its practical application to prepare a library of useful chemicals. 37 A range of alcohols ( 5a , 5b , 5d–5i ), amines ( 5j–5q ), thiol ( 5r ), and water ( 5c ) were allowed to react with the synthesized diazo substrate 4a (see ESI† for detailed methods and characteristic data) to form corresponding esters and acids ( 6aa–6ar ) in good to excellent yields (58–80%). As shown in Fig.…”

Chemical-Resistant Green Luminescent Concentrator-Based Photo-Microreactor via One-Touch Assembly of 3D-Printed Modules

“…Thus, it is plausible that the developed hexagon clusters as an alternative strategy of numbering-up would demonstrate to achieve the desired throughput by combining radial and serial connections, and thus has the potential to be a viable and unique scaling system for eco-production of useful chemicals, such as a photo-driven mini-plant. 19,45…”

“…Nevertheless, solar energy with some disadvantages of low and discontinuous intensity has limitations in practical application in photochemistry. In addition, organic dye-based photocatalysts are environmentally friendly but less efficient than transition-metal-based photocatalysts. , To address these issues, luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs), typically used for solar cells, were introduced into photo-microreactors (PMs) to accomplish organic dye-based photocatalytic reactions. − LSCs collect light over a large area, convert it to a specific target wavelength, and concentrate it into a small area. Accordingly, within LSC-based photo-microreactors (LSC-PMs), the LSC converts light to the wavelength range corresponding to the maximum absorption by the photocatalyst, thereby increasing the efficiency of the reaction. , …”

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

“… 12 In our ambition to solve these chemical, practical, and technological issues, a luminescent solar concentrator-based photomicroreactor (LSC-PM) was developed. 13 This reactor concept allows harvesting of the broad spectrum of daylight and conversion of it via fluorescence to a narrower-wavelength band, thus matching the fluorescence emission with the energy levels of the photocatalyst. In addition, the photon intensity reaching the reaction channels can be augmented through a wave-guiding effect inside the refractive reactor material.…”