Issue 10, 2021

Integration of redox cocatalysts for artificial photosynthesis

Abstract

Solar fuels and chemical production using photosynthetic devices by harnessing solar energy remains an attractive prospect owing to its being a potential alternative to fossil feedstocks, though such artificial photosynthetic systems for direct solar-to-chemical conversion are still far from industrial applications as a consequence of emergent challenges that may be well addressed by the exploration of integrated photocatalysis devices with enhanced activity, selectivity, and stability. Simultaneously embedding dual cocatalysts onto photocatalysts aims to tackle these limitations of artificial photosynthesis initiated by the bare photocatalyst while offering an opportunity to realize their synergistic operations. In this review, we summarize the essential design principles and emerging configurations of dual cocatalysts, and provide a side-by-side comparison to reveal their strengths and deficiencies. In parallel, we discuss how to choose a pair of redox cocatalysts for a specific photocatalytic redox reaction, and how some key lessons that have emerged from the relevant studies can be applied into further investigations for fuels and chemicals generation. Finally, we outline the remaining challenges and potential advances in the discovery of a robust and renewable artificial photosynthesis system.

Graphical abstract: Integration of redox cocatalysts for artificial photosynthesis

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
31 jul 2021
Accepted
01 sep 2021
First published
07 sep 2021

Energy Environ. Sci., 2021,14, 5260-5288

Integration of redox cocatalysts for artificial photosynthesis

B. Qiu, M. Du, Y. Ma, Q. Zhu, M. Xing and J. Zhang, Energy Environ. Sci., 2021, 14, 5260 DOI: 10.1039/D1EE02359D

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements