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Lv J, Xie J, Mohamed AGA, Zhang X, Feng Y, Jiao L, Zhou E, Yuan D, Wang Y. Solar utilization beyond photosynthesis. Nat Rev Chem 2022; 7:91-105. [PMID: 37117911 DOI: 10.1038/s41570-022-00448-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Natural photosynthesis is an efficient biochemical process which converts solar energy into energy-rich carbohydrates. By understanding the key photoelectrochemical processes and mechanisms that underpin natural photosynthesis, advanced solar utilization technologies have been developed that may be used to provide sustainable energy to help address climate change. The processes of light harvesting, catalysis and energy storage in natural photosynthesis have inspired photovoltaics, photoelectrocatalysis and photo-rechargeable battery technologies. In this Review, we describe how advanced solar utilization technologies have drawn inspiration from natural photosynthesis, to find sustainable solutions to the challenges faced by modern society. We summarize the uses of advanced solar utilization technologies, such as converting solar energy to electrical and chemical energy, electrochemical storage and conversion, and associated thermal tandem technologies. Both the foundational mechanisms and typical materials and devices are reported. Finally, potential future solar utilization technologies are presented that may mimic, and even outperform, natural photosynthesis.
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Wang Y, Ye C, Chen Z, Xu T, Wang Y, Liu C, Zhang Q, Liu B. Soluble Hybrid Ionic Semiconductor and Its Photovoltaic Effect in Solution. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:33538-33547. [PMID: 35820821 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c06706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Semiconductor materials were adopted in their solid states for photovoltaic applications owing to their nonsolubility and/or breaking of the photogenerated carrier transfer pathway in solution. The liquid-state photovoltaic device fills in a gap between currently prevailing full-solid-state and solid-liquid-state solar cells; however, reports on the photovoltaic effect from realistic semiconductor solution are absent so far. Herein, we report a hybrid inorganic-organic ionic semiconductor [Ni(Phen)3][V14O34Cl]Cl (Phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) and observe its photovoltaic effect in ionic liquid solution. This photovoltaic effect arises as a result of charge transfer between the coordination cation and inorganic polyoxovanadate in solution under illumination and subsequent transfer to electrodes. The liquid-state photovoltaic device (cell configuration: carbon cloth||[Ni(Phen)3][V14O34Cl]Cl in ionic liquid||Al foam) yields an open-circuit voltage of ca. 1.199 V and a photocurrent density of 3.268 mA cm-2 upon illumination using an air mass of 1.5 (100 mW cm-2) at 80 °C with a fill factor of 42.48% and an efficiency of 1.665%. This novel type of hybrid ionic semiconductor possesses great structural tunability for an optimized photovoltaic performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, Anhui, China
| | - Chunyin Ye
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, Anhui, China
- Department of Chemical Physics, Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, Anhui, China
| | - Zongwei Chen
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, Anhui, China
- Department of Chemical Physics, Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, Anhui, China
| | - Tingting Xu
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, Anhui, China
| | - Yang Wang
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, Anhui, China
| | - Congyan Liu
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, Anhui, China
| | - Qun Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, Anhui, China
- Department of Chemical Physics, Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, Anhui, China
| | - Bo Liu
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, Anhui, China
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