Themed collection Highlights in photocatalysis

Advances in improving solid-phase hydrogen storage properties of light main group metals and their tetrahydroborates and tetrahydroaluminates for mobile applications are reviewed and discussed.

It provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in photocatalytic ammonia decomposition for hydrogen production, focusing on both gas-and liquid-phase processes, and guidance for the rational design of next-generation photocatalytic systems.

This review presents the synthesis, evaluation, and characterization of non-TiO₂-based photoanodes for photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) wastewater treatment, revealing the synthesis–structure–mechanism–activity relationship.

This review highlights recent advances in CO₂ photocatalytic reduction using polyoxometalate composites (MOFs/g-C₃N₄/LDHs), offering insights to optimize performance.

Photocatalytic potential of UiO-66-NH₂ and its functional nanohybrids for green energy generation and environmental remediation.

Recent progress of covalent organic frameworks as heterogeneous photocatalysts has been reviewed, covering design strategies and their applications in photocatalytic H₂ evolution, CO₂ reduction, organic transformation, and H₂O₂ production.

The exponential growth in human population presents significant challenges to the long-term sustainability of civilization through escalating global energy crises and environmental issues.

A comprehensive review of techniques and emerging trends in lanthanide-based MOFs for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution via water splitting.

Exploring advancements in photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide production, emphasizing technological breakthroughs in pure water, natural water, microdroplets and coupling systems.

The panorama of the latest developments of the emerging porphyrin-based MOFs for photo(electro)catalytic CO₂ reduction is shown.

Recent studies on enhancing charge carrier behavior through electric effects for efficient photocatalysis are summarized, evaluating the in-depth function of these effects. This provides  unique perspectives to optimize photocatalytic processes.

An electric field induces a polarization in SrTiO_3−x. This enhances or diminishes photoelectrochemical water oxidation, depending on dipole orientation. According to DFT, the polarization is due to movement of O vacancies at the SrTiO_3−x surface.

Outstanding photocatalytic H₂O₂ production was achieved by integrating plasmonic Au nanostars with PHI nanoflakes.

Scaling gas-phase photocatalysis requires maximizing photon use. This study presents a PFBR with ray-tracing and simulations, validated via solar Boudouard reaction, showing higher photon efficiency than fixed beds.

The modified quartz wool/porphyrin composite exhibits high photocatalytic H₂O₂ activity comparable to the powder and can be readily scaled up, with activity rising proportionally as QW modules increase from 1 to 8.

Immobilised nano-particulate photocatalyst sheets under concentrated solar conditions could offer a competitive approach to scaling water-splitting photocatalytic systems for low-emission hydrogen production.

AgPt nanoprisms are shown here as suitable catalysts for visible light-driven CO₂ hydrogenation into multicarbon products, which is an alluring goal in catalysis.

Benzodithiophene-incorporated polymers, synthesized via a two-step polymerization process, enhance photocatalytic efficiency by optimizing donor–acceptor interactions within the polymer matrix and facilitating efficient charge separation.

Schematic of photocatalytic type 2 Z-scheme raceway design with hydrogen reactor cylinders floating on an oxygen reactor raceway pool. The raceway concept enables a scalable, low-cost, and low-carbon intensity method of hydrogen production.

The RPOM-based metal vanadate composites exhibit remarkable photocatalytic performance and superior photoresponse owing to the excellent charge migration through an indirect Z-scheme heterojunction with RGO acting as the electron mediator.

Mechanochemically synthesized materials show competitive performance in selective photooxidation. The study includes comprehensive characterization, light–matter interaction modeling, and quantum efficiency calculations.

Rational design of benzothiadiazole-based donor (D)–acceptor (A) covalent organic framework for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution is presented.

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) CO₂ reduction (CO₂R) directly on chalcogenide semiconductor surface in an aqueous environment.

Transient optical spectroscopies reveal the distinct decay features of photogenerated electrons and holes of the Gd₂Ti₂O₅S₂ photocatalyst. Optimization strategies and existing bottlenecks are discussed to enhance hydrogen production efficiency.

Hydrothermally synthesized VC-5 nanocomposites are efficient photocatalysts for dye degradation and hydrogen generation under sunlight. VC-5 degrades 25 ppm dye in min. and achieves 2545.24 μmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹ H₂ evolution from water without noble metals.

Investigation of bismuth-based materials for the photocatalytic decomposition of N₂O.

This work is the first to introduce photocontrolled catalysts into CO₂RR, and further introduce RE single atom into the catalysts, aiming to optimize the photocatalytic performance by utilizing the synergistic effect of RE single atom and composites.

Synergistic magic: copper single atom and nanocrystalline carbon nitride for selective CO₂ to methanol conversion.

The conformal heterojunction of a competent hole transport layer onto the nanoporous BiVO₄ photoanode is highly challenging, despite its promise for unbiased photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting.

Meticulously designed neighboring WOR and ORR active sites significantly enhance the overall photocatalytic synthesis of hydrogen peroxide.