Visible‐to‐NIR Photon Harvesting: Progressive Engineering of Catalysts for Solar‐Powered Environmental Purification and Fuel Production

Abstract

Utilization of diffusive solar energy through photocatalytic processes for environmental purification and fuel production has long been pursued. However, efficient capture of visible-near-infrared (NIR) photons, especially for those with wavelengths longer than 600 nm, is a demanding quest in photocatalysis owing to their relatively low energy. In recent years, benefiting from the advances in photoactive material design, photocatalytic reaction system optimization, and new emerging mechanisms for long-wavelength photon activation, increasing numbers of studies on the harnessing of visible-NIR light for solar-to-chemical energy conversion have been reported. Here, the aim is to comprehensively summarize the progress in this area. The main strategies of the long-wavelength visible-NIR photon capture and the explicitly engineered material systems, i.e., narrow optical gap, photosensitizers, upconversion, and photothermal materials, are elaborated. In addition, the advances in long-wavelength light-driven photo- and photothermal-catalytic environmental remediation and fuel production are discussed. It is anticipated that this review presents the forefront achievements in visible-NIR photon capture and at the same time promotes the development of novel visible-NIR photon harnessing catalysts toward efficient solar energy utilization.

Hybrid Photothermal Pyroelectric and Thermogalvanic Generator for Multisituation Low Grade Heat Harvesting

“…Moreover, low grade solar thermal harvesting has attracted significant interest because of its versatility in numerous applications such as steam generation, [1][2][3][4][5] photo/electrocatalysis, [6][7][8][9][10][11][12] energy harvesters, [13][14][15][16][17] and actuators. Seemingly, the intermittency issue can be circumvented, by alternatively intercepting and capturing of solar thermal energy fluxes.…”

Recent Advances in Visible‐Light‐Driven Hydrogen Evolution from Water using Polymer Photocatalysts

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Programmable Interface Asymmetric Integration of Carbon Nanotubes and Gold Nanoparticles toward Flexible, Configurable, and Surface‐Enhanced Raman Scattering Active All‐In‐One Solar‐Driven Evaporators

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