CuS-Decorated GaN Nanowires on Silicon Photocathodes for Converting CO2 Mixture Gas to HCOOH

Photocatalytic Conversion of Methane to Ethane and Propane Using Cobalt-Cluster-Activated GaN Nanowires

The photocatalytic nonoxidative coupling of methane (PNOCM) offers a promising route to synthesize valuable C2+ hydrocarbons while minimizing side reactions. Oxide-based photocatalysts have been predominant in this field, but suffering from limited conversion rates, selectivity, and durability due to poor C-C coupling as well as overoxidation of CH4 by lattice oxygen. Here, we introduce an advancement in PNOCM for methane conversion into ethane and propane using GaN, one of the most produced semiconductors, together with trace amounts of metallic cobalt clusters (0.1 wt %). The photocatalytic system exhibits outstanding stability, maintaining performance over 110 hours, achieving conversion rates of approximately 192.3 mmol g-1 h-1 for ethane and ~17.9 mmol g-1 h-1 for propane, with virtually no coke byproducts detected, representing the highest activity and stability ever reported to our knowledge. This high activity is attributed to the critical methane activation and C-C coupling on Co cluster, which can be greatly accelerated via the ultrafast photogenerated charge transfer from p-GaN to Co cluster. Additionally, the GaN support further synergistically enhances methane activation by in situ generating N-H and O-H species under reaction, as well as provides a vital anti-overoxidation effect to CH4 for high selectivity and stability.

Synergistic Metal-Support Interactions in Au/GaN Catalysts for Photoelectrochemical Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia

Metal-support interactions are crucial in the electrochemical synthesis of ammonia (NH3) from nitrate (NO3 -) reduction reaction, enabling efficient NH3 production under mild conditions. However, the complexity of the reaction pathways often limits efficiency. Here, a photoelectrochemical system composed of gold (Au) nanoclusters supported on gallium nitride (GaN) nanowires is introduced, grown on a n+-p Si wafer, for selective reduction of NO3 - to NH3 under solar illumination. NO3 - ions are preferentially adsorbed and reduced to nitrite (NO2 -) on the GaN nanowires, which then transfer to adjacent Au nanoclusters to complete the NH3 synthesis. This mechanism is confirmed by both experimental data and theoretical calculations. Optimizing the surface coverage and size of Au nanoclusters on the GaN nanowires significantly enhanced catalytic activity compared to that on planar n+-p Si photoelectrodes, achieving a faradaic efficiency of 91.8% at -0.4 VRHE and a high NH3 production rate of 131.1 µmol cm-2 h-1 at -0.8 VRHE. These findings highlight the synergetic effect between metal co-catalysts and semiconductor supports in designing photoelectrodes for multi-step NO3 - reduction.

Surface-hydrogenated CrMnOx coupled with GaN nanowires for light-driven bioethanol dehydration to ethylene

Light-driven bioethanol dehydration offers attractive outlooks for the sustainable production of ethylene. Herein, a surface-hydrogenated CrMnOx is coupled with GaN nanowires (GaN@CMO-H) for light-driven ethanol dehydration to ethylene. Through combined experimental and computational investigations, a surface hydrogen-replenishment mechanism is proposed to disclose the ethanol dehydration pathway over GaN@CMO-H. Moreover, the surface-hydrogenated GaN@CMO-H can significantly lower the reaction energy barrier of the C2H5OH-to-C2H4 conversion by switching the rate-determining reaction step compared to both GaN and GaN@CMO. Consequently, the surface-hydrogenated GaN@CMO-H illustrates a considerable ethylene production activity of 1.78 mol·gcat-1·h-1 with a high turnover number of 94,769 mole ethylene per mole CrMnOx. This work illustrates a new route for sustainable ethylene production with the only use of bioethanol and sunlight beyond fossil fuels.

Controllable Regulation of CO2 Adsorption Behavior via Precise Charge Donation Modulation for Highly Selective CO2 Electroreduction to Formic Acid

The synthesis of value-added products via CO2 electroreduction (CO2ER) is of great significance, but the development of efficient and versatile strategies for the controllable selectivity tuning is extremely challenging. Herein, the tuning of CO2ER selectivity through the modulation of CO2 adsorption behavior is proposed. Using the constructed zeolitic MOF (SNNU-339), CO2 adsorption behavior is controllably changed from *CO2 to CO2* via the precise ligand-to-metal charge donation (LTMCD) regulation. It is confirmed that the high electronegativity of the coordinate ligand directly restricts the LTMCD, reduces the charge density on the metal sites, lowers the Gibbs free energy for CO2* adsorption, and leads to the transformation of CO2 adsorption mode from *CO2 to CO2*. Owing to the modulated CO2 adsorption behavior and regulated kinetics, SNNU-339 exhibits superior HCOOH selectivity (≈330% promotion, 85.6% Faradaic efficiency) and high CO2ER activity. The wide applicability of the proposed approach sheds light on the efficient CO2ER. This study provides a competitive strategy for rational catalyst design and underscores the significance of adsorption behavior tuning in electrocatalysis.

Copper Sulfide based Photocatalysts, Electrocatalysts and Photoelectrocatalysts: Innovations in Structural Modulation and Application

Copper sulfides (CuxS, 1 ≤ x ≤ 2) are notable for their unique photoelectric properties and potential applications, particularly in photo/electrocatalysis. These materials are valued for their tunable band gap, near-infrared optical characteristics, and plasmonic resonance effects. However, challenges such as low catalytic activity and limited stability impede their practical applications. This review addresses these issues by exploring advanced strategies for electronic structure modulation, including atomic doping, shape alteration, heterojunction construction, and defect introduction to enhance catalytic efficiency. A detailed analysis of the optical and electrical properties of CuxS across various stoichiometric ratios and crystal structures is provided, offering a comprehensive overview of their applications in photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and photo/electrocatalysis. Additionally, the review synthesizes current knowledge and highlights the potential of these strategies to optimize CuxS-based photo/electrocatalysts, proposing future research directions to bridge the gap between theoretical studies and practical applications. This work underscores the importance of CuxS in photo/electrocatalysis and aims to inspire further innovation and exploration in this field, emphasizing its significance in material science and engineering.

Switching Product Selectivity in CO2 Electroreduction via Cu-S Bond Length Variation

Regulating competitive reaction pathways to direct the selectivity of electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction toward a desired product is crucial but remains challenging. Herein, switching product from HCOOH to CO is achieved by incorporating Sb element into the CuS, in which the Cu-S ionic bond is coupled with S-Sb covalent bond through bridging S atoms that elongates the Cu-S bond from 2.24 Å to 2.30 Å. Consequently, CuS with a shorter Cu-S bond exhibited a high selectivity for producing HCOOH, with a maximum Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 72 %. Conversely, Cu3SbS4 characterized by an elongated Cu-S bond exhibited the most pronounced production of CO with a maximum FE of 60 %. In situ spectroscopy combined with density functional theory calculations revealed that the altered Cu-S bond length and local coordination environment make the *HCOO binding energy weaker on Cu3SbS4 compared to that on CuS. Notably, a volcano-shaped correlation between the Cu-S bond length and adsorption strength of *COOH indicates that Cu-S in Cu3SbS4 as double-active sites facilitates the adsorption of *COOH, and thus results in the high selectivity of Cu3SbS4 toward CO.

Utilizing full-spectrum sunlight for ammonia decomposition to hydrogen over GaN nanowires-supported Ru nanoparticles on silicon

Photo-thermal-coupling ammonia decomposition presents a promising strategy for utilizing the full-spectrum to address the H2 storage and transportation issues. Herein, we exhibit a photo-thermal-catalytic architecture by assembling gallium nitride nanowires-supported ruthenium nanoparticles on a silicon for extracting hydrogen from ammonia aqueous solution in a batch reactor with only sunlight input. The photoexcited charge carriers make a predomination contribution on H2 activity with the assistance of the photothermal effect. Upon concentrated light illumination, the architecture significantly reduces the activation energy barrier from 1.08 to 0.22 eV. As a result, a high turnover number of 3,400,750 is reported during 400 h of continuous light illumination, and the H2 activity per hour  is nearly 1000 times higher than that under the pure thermo-catalytic conditions. The reaction mechanism is extensively studied by coordinating experiments, spectroscopic characterizations, and density functional theory calculation. Outdoor tests validate the viability of such a multifunctional architecture for ammonia decomposition toward H2 under natural sunlight.

Solar-Driven Sustainability: III-V Semiconductor for Green Energy Production Technologies

Long-term societal prosperity depends on addressing the world's energy and environmental problems, and photocatalysis has emerged as a viable remedy. Improving the efficiency of photocatalytic processes is fundamentally achieved by optimizing the effective utilization of solar energy and enhancing the efficient separation of photogenerated charges. It has been demonstrated that the fabrication of III-V semiconductor-based photocatalysts is effective in increasing solar light absorption, long-term stability, large-scale production and promoting charge transfer. This focused review explores on the current developments in III-V semiconductor materials for solar-powered photocatalytic systems. The review explores on various subjects, including the advancement of III-V semiconductors, photocatalytic mechanisms, and their uses in H2 conversion, CO2 reduction, environmental remediation, and photocatalytic oxidation and reduction reactions. In order to design heterostructures, the review delves into basic concepts including solar light absorption and effective charge separation. It also highlights significant advancements in green energy systems for water splitting, emphasizing the significance of establishing eco-friendly systems for CO2 reduction and hydrogen production. The main purpose is to produce hydrogen through sustainable and ecologically friendly energy conversion. The review intends to foster the development of greener and more sustainable energy source by encouraging researchers and developers to focus on practical applications and advancements in solar-powered photocatalysis.

Wafer Scale Gallium Nitride Integrated Electrode Toward Robust High Temperature Energy Storage

Gallium Nitride (GaN), as the representative of wide bandgap semiconductors, has great prospects in accomplishing rapid charge delivery under high-temperature environments thanks to excellent structural stability and electron mobility. However, there is still a gap in wafer-scale GaN single-crystal integrated electrodes applied in the energy storage field. Herein, Si-doped GaN nanochannel with gallium oxynitride (GaON) layer on a centimeter scale (denoted by GaN NC) is reported. The Si atoms modulate electronic redistribution to improve conductivity and drive nanochannel formation. Apart from that, the distinctive nanochannel configuration with a GaON layer provides adequate active sites and extraordinary structural stability. The GaN-based supercapacitors are assembled and deliver outstanding charge storage capabilities at 140 °C. Surprisingly, 90% retention is maintained after 50 000 cycles. This study opens the pathway toward wafer-scale GaN single-crystal integrated electrodes with self-powered characteristics that are compatible with various (opto)-electronic devices.

An Active and Robust Catalytic Architecture of NiCo/GaN Nanowires for Light-Driven Hydrogen Production from Methanol

On-site hydrogen production from liquid organic hydrogen carriers e.g., methanol provides an emerging strategy for the safe storage and transportation of hydrogen. Herein, a catalytic architecture consisting of nickel-cobalt nanoclusters dispersed on gallium nitride nanowires supported by silicon for light-driven hydrogen production from methanol is reported. By correlative microscopic, spectroscopic characterizations, and density functional theory calculations, it is revealed that NiCo nanoclusters work in synergy with GaN nanowires to enable the achievement of a significantly reduced activation energy of methanol dehydrogenation by switching the potential-limiting step from *CHO → *CO to *CH3O → *CH2O. In combination with the marked photothermal effect, a high hydrogen rate of 5.62 mol·gcat-1·h-1 with a prominent turnover frequency of 43,460 h-1 is achieved at 5 Wcm-2 without additional energy input. Remarkably, the synergy between Co and Ni, in combination with the unique surface of GaN, renders the architecture with outstanding resistance to sintering and coking. The architecture thereby exhibits a high turnover number of >16,310,000 over 600 h. Outdoor testing validates the viability of the architecture for active and robust hydrogen evolution under natural concentrated sunlight. Overall, this work presents a promising architecture for on-site hydrogen production from CH3OH by virtually unlimited solar energy.

Photo-thermal synergistic CO2 hydrogenation towards CO over PtRh bimetal-decorated GaN nanowires/Si

Photo-thermal-synergistic hydrogenation is a promising strategy for upcycling carbon dioxide into fuels and chemicals by maximally utilizing full-spectrum solar energy. Herein, by immobilizing Pt-Rh bimetal onto a well-developed GaN NWs/Si platform, CO2 was photo-thermo-catalytically hydrogenated towards CO under concentrated light illumination without extra energies. The as-designed architecture demonstrates a considerable CO evolution rate of 11.7 mol gGaN-1 h-1 with a high selectivity of 98.5% under concentrated light illumination of 5.3 W cm-2, leading to a benchmark turnover frequency of 26 486 mol CO per mol PtRh per hour. It is nearly 2-3 orders of magnitude higher than that of pure thermal catalysis under the same temperature by external heating without light. Control experiments, various spectroscopic characterization methods, and density functional theory calculations are correlatively conducted to reveal the origin of the remarkable performance as well as the photo-thermal enhanced mechanism. It is found that the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs is dramatically inhibited under high temperatures arising from the photothermal effect. More critically, the synergy between photogenerated carriers arising from ultraviolet light and photoinduced heat arising from visible- and infrared light enables a sharp reduction of the apparent activation barrier of CO2 hydrogenation from 2.09 downward to 1.18 eV. The evolution pathway of CO2 hydrogenation towards CO is also disclosed at the molecular level. Furthermore, compared to monometallic Pt, the introduction of Rh further reduces the desorption energy barrier of *CO by optimizing the electronic properties of Pt, thus enabling the achievement of excellent activity and selectivity. This work provides new insights into CO2 hydrogenation by maximally utilizing full-spectrum sunlight via photo-thermal synergy.

Theoretical Prediction Leads to Synthesize GDY Supported InOx Quantum Dots for CO2 Reduction

The preparation of formic acid by direct reduction of carbon dioxide is an important basis for the future chemical industry and is of great significance. Due to the serious shortage of highly active and selective electrocatalysts leading to the development of direct reduction of carbon dioxide is limited. Herein the target catalysts with high CO2RR activity and selectivity were identified by integrating DFT calculations and high-throughput screening and by using graphdiyne (GDY) supported metal oxides quantum dots (QDs) as the ideal model. It is theoretically predicted that GDY supported indium oxide QDs (i.e., InOx/GDY) is a new heterostructure electrocatalyst candidate with optimal CO2RR performance. The interfacial electronic strong interactions effectively regulate the surface charge distribution of QDs and affect the adsorption/desorption behavior of HCOO* intermediate during CO2RR to achieve highly efficient CO2 conversion. Based on the predicted composition and structure, we synthesized the advanced catalytic system, and demonstrates superior CO2-to-HCOOH conversion performance. The study presents an effective strategy for rational design of highly efficient heterostructure electrocatalysts to promote green chemical production.

Air-Promoted Light-Driven Hydrogen Production from Bioethanol over Core/Shell Cr2O3@GaN Nanoarchitecture

Light-driven hydrogen production from biomass derivatives offers a path towards carbon neutrality. It is often however operated with the limitations of sluggish kinetics and severe coking. Herein, a disruptive air-promoted strategy is explored for efficient and durable light-driven hydrogen production from ethanol over a core/shell Cr2O3@GaN nanoarchitecture. The correlative computational and experimental investigations show ethanol is energetically favorable to be adsorbed on the Cr2O3@GaN interface, followed by dehydrogenation toward acetaldehyde and protons by photoexcited holes. The released protons are then consumed for H2 evolution by photogenerated electrons. Afterward, O2 can be evolved into active oxygen species and promote the deprotonation and C-C cleavage of the key C2 intermediate, thus significantly lowering the reaction energy barrier of hydrogen evolution and removing the carbon residual with inhibited overoxidation. Consequently, hydrogen is produced at a high rate of 76.9 mole H2 per gram Cr2O3@GaN per hour by only feeding ethanol, air, and light, leading to the achievement of a turnover number of 266,943,000 mole H2 per mole Cr2O3 over a long-term operation of 180 hours. Notably, an unprecedented light-to-hydrogen efficiency of 17.6 % is achieved under concentrated light illumination. The simultaneous generation of aldehyde from ethanol dehydrogenation enables the process more economically promising.

Photoelectrocatalytic Utilization of CO2 : A Big Show of Si-based Photoelectrodes

CO2 is a greenhouse gas that contributes to environmental deterioration; however, it can also be utilized as an abundant C1 resource for the production of valuable chemicals. Solar-driven photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) CO2 utilization represents an advanced technology for the resourcing of CO2 . The key to achieving PEC CO2 utilization lies in high-performance semiconductor photoelectrodes. Si-based photoelectrodes have attracted increasing attention in the field of PEC CO2 utilization due to their suitable band gap (1.1 eV), high carrier mobility, low cost, and abundance on Earth. There are two pathways to PEC CO2 utilization using Si-based photoelectrodes: direct reduction of CO2 into small molecule fuels and chemicals, and fixation of CO2 with organic substrates to generate high-value chemicals. The efficiency and product selectivity of PEC CO2 utilization depends on the structures of the photoelectrodes as well as the composition, morphology, and size of the catalysts. In recent years, significant and influential progress has been made in utilizing Si-based photoelectrodes for PEC CO2 utilization. This review summarizes the latest research achievements in Si-based PEC CO2 utilization, with a particular emphasis on the mechanistic understanding of CO2 reduction and fixation, which will inspire future developments in this field.

P-N Heterojunction Embedded CuS/TiO2 Bifunctional Photocatalyst for Synchronous Hydrogen Production and Benzylamine Conversion

The coupling of photocatalytic hydrogen production and selective oxidation of benzylamine is a topic of significant research interest. However, enhancing the bifunctional photocatalytic activity in this context is still a major challenge. The construction of Z-scheme heterojunctions is an effective strategy to enhance the activity of bifunctional photocatalysts. Herein, a p-n type direct Z-scheme heterojunction CuS/TiO2 is constructed using metal-organic framework (MOF)-derived TiO2 as a substrate. The carrier density is measured by Mott-Schottky under photoexcitation, which confirms that the Z-scheme electron transfer mode of CuS/TiO2 is driven by the diffusion effect caused by the carrier concentration difference. Benefiting from efficient charge separation and transfer, photogenerated electrons, and holes are directedly transferred to active oxidation and reduction sites. CuS/TiO2 also exhibits excellent bifunctional photocatalytic activity without noble metal cocatalysts. Among them, the H2 evolution activity of the CuS/TiO2 is found to be 17.1 and 29.5 times higher than that of TiO2 and CuS, respectively. Additionally, the yields of N-Benzylidenebenzylamine (NBB) are 14.3 and 47.4 times higher than those of TiO2 and CuS, respectively.

Plasmon-Stimulated Colorimetry Biosensor Array for the Identification of Multiple Metabolites

Rationally designing highly catalytic and stable nanozymes for metabolite monitoring is of great importance because of their huge potential in early disease diagnosis. Herein, a novel nanozyme based on hierarchically structured CuS/ZnS with a highly efficient peroxidase (POD)-mimic capability was developed and synthesized for multiple metabolite determination and recognition via the plasmon-stimulated biosensor array strategy. The designed nanozyme can simultaneously harvest plasmon triggered hot electron-hole pairs and generate photothermal properties, leading to a sharply boosted POD-mimic capability under 808 nm laser irradiation. Interestingly, because of the interaction diversity of the metabolite with POD-like nanomaterials, the unique inhibitory effect of metabolites on the POD-mimic activity could be the signal response as the differentiation. Thus, utilizing TMB as a typical chromogenic substrate in the addition of H2O2, the designed colorimetric biosensor array can produce diverse fingerprints for the three vital metabolisms (cysteine (Cys), ascorbic acid (AA), and glutathione (GSH)), which can be precisely identified by principal component analysis (PCA). Notably, a distinct fingerprint of a single metabolite with different levels and metabolite mixtures is also achieved with a detection limit of 1 μM. Most importantly, cell lysis could be effectively discriminated by the biosensor assay, implying its great potential in clinical diagnosis.

Highly selective photoelectrochemical CO2 reduction by crystal phase-modulated nanocrystals without parasitic absorption

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction (CO2R) holds the potential to reduce the costs of solar fuel production by integrating CO2 utilization and light harvesting within one integrated device. However, the CO2R selectivity on the photocathode is limited by the lack of catalytic active sites and competition with the hydrogen evolution reaction. On the other hand, serious parasitic light absorption occurs on the front-side-illuminated photocathode due to the poor light transmittance of CO2R cocatalyst films, resulting in extremely low photocurrent density at the CO2R equilibrium potential. This paper describes the design and fabrication of a photocathode consisting of crystal phase-modulated Ag nanocrystal cocatalysts integrated on illumination-reaction decoupled heterojunction silicon (Si) substrate for the selective and efficient conversion of CO2. Ag nanocrystals containing unconventional hexagonal close-packed phases accelerate the charge transfer process in CO2R reaction, exhibiting excellent catalytic performance. Heterojunction Si substrate decouples light absorption from the CO2R catalyst layer, preventing the parasitic light absorption. The obtained photocathode exhibits a carbon monoxide (CO) Faradaic efficiency (FE) higher than 90% in a wide potential range, with the maximum FE reaching up to 97.4% at -0.2 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode. At the CO2/CO equilibrium potential, a CO partial photocurrent density of -2.7 mA cm-2 with a CO FE of 96.5% is achieved in 0.1 M KHCO3 electrolyte on this photocathode, surpassing the expensive benchmark Au-based PEC CO2R system.

Photoenzymatic CO2 Reduction Dominated by Collaborative Matching of Linkage and Linker in Covalent Organic Frameworks

Artificial photoenzymatic systems based on covalent organic frameworks (COFs) provide an interesting platform for converting CO2 to value-added fuels. However, the dual roles of COFs as photocatalysts and enzyme hosts showcase contradictory preferences for structures, which poses a great challenge for their rational design. Herein, we report the collaborative matching of linkages and linkers in COFs on their ability to exert both photocatalytic activity and enzyme loading, which has been neglected until now. The linkage-dependent linker regulation pattern was elucidated, and the optimal match showed a record-breaking apparent quantum efficiency at 420 nm for photocatalytic cofactor regeneration of 13.95% with a high turnover frequency of 5.3 mmol g-1 h-1, outperforming other reported crystalline framework photocatalysts. Moreover, theoretical calculations and experiments revealed the mechanism underlying the effects of matching the linkage and linker on exciton dissociation and charge migration in photocatalysis. This newfound understanding enabled the construction of COFs with both high photoactivity and large pores closer in size to the formate dehydrogenase, achieving high loading capacity and a suitable confinement effect. Remarkably, the artificial photoenzymatic system constructed according to optimal linkage-linker matching exhibited highly efficient CO2 reduction, yielding formic acid with a specific activity as high as 1.46 mmol g-1 catalyst h-1 and good reusability, paving the way for sustainable CO2 conversion driven by visible light.

High Formate Selectivity and Deactivation Mechanism of CuS Nanoparticles in CO2 Electrocatalytic Reduction Reaction

CO2 electroreduction into liquid fuels is of broad interest and benefits reducing the energy crisis and environment burdens. CuS has been reported to be a desirable candidate for CO2 electroreduction into formate; however, its formate selectivity and stability are still far from the demands of practical application. Herein, we report CuS nanoparticles exhibiting good Faradaic efficiency of formate (about 98 %) in CO2 electroreduction and its deactivation mechanism during the reaction. The deactivation of CuS was found to be associated with the reconstruction and S loss of CuS, which deteriorates the Faradaic efficiency of formate. Combined with ionic and gas analyses, the S atom in CuS was lost in the form of H2 S, SO2 , and SO4 2- , followed by the reconstruction of CuS into copper oxides. Such a catalyst reconstruction facilitates electroreductions of CO2 and H2 O, respectively, into CO and H2 , etc., resulting in the degradation of catalytical performance of CO2 electroreduction into formate. This work reveals the important role of S loss and reconstruction of metal sulfide catalysts during the electroreduction reaction, which may benefit the further development of CuS-based electro-catalyst for CO2 electroreduction.

Long-Wavelength Illumination-Induced Photocurrent Enhancement of a ZnPc Photocathodic Material for Bioanalytical Applications

Herein, a novel photocathodic nanocomposite poly{4,8-bis[5-(2-ethylhexyl)-thiophen-2-yl] benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene-2,6-diyl-alt-3-fluoro-2-[(2-ethylhexyl)-carbonyl]thieno[3,4-b]thiophene-4,6-diyl}/phthalocyanine zinc (PTB7-Th/ZnPc) with high photoelectric conversion efficiency under long-wavelength illumination was prepared to construct an ultrasensitive biosensor for the detection of microRNA-21 (miRNA-21), accompanied by a prominent anti-interference capability toward reductive substances. Impressively, the new heterojunction PTB7-Th/ZnPc nanocomposite could not only generate a strong cathodic photocurrent to improve the detection sensitivity under long-wavelength illumination (660 nm) but also effectively avoid the high damage of biological activity caused by short-wavelength light stimulation. Accordingly, by coupling with rolling circle amplification (RCA)-triggered DNA amplification to form functional biquencher nanospheres, a PEC biosensor was fabricated to realize the ultrasensitive analysis of miRNA-21 in the concentration range of 0.1 fM to 10 nM with a detection limit as low as 32 aM. This strategy provided a novel long-wavelength illumination-induced photocurrent enhancement photoactive material for a sensitive and low-damage anti-interference bioassay and early clinical disease diagnosis.

Modulating the Cu2O Photoelectrode/Electrolyte Interface with Bilayer Surfactant Simulating Cell Membranes for Boosting Photoelectrochemical CO2 Reduction

The low solubility of CO₂ molecules and the competition of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in aqueous electrolytes pose significant challenges to the current photoelectrochemical (PEC) CO₂ reduction reaction. In this study, inspired by the bilayer phospholipid molecular structure of cell membranes, we developed a Cu₂O/Sn photocathode that was modified with the bilayer surfactant DHAB for achieving high CO₂ permeability and suppressed HER. The Cu₂O/Sn/DHAB photocathode stabilizes the *OCHO intermediate and facilitates the production of HCOOH. Our findings show that the Faradaic efficiency (FE) of HCOOH by the Cu₂O/Sn/DHAB photoelectrode is 83.3%, significantly higher than that achieved with the Cu₂O photoelectrode (FE_HCOOH = 30.1%). Furthermore, the FE_H2 produced by the Cu₂O/Sn/DHAB photoelectrode is only 2.95% at -0.6 V vs RHE. The generation rate of HCOOH by the Cu₂O/Sn/DHAB photoelectrode reaches 1.52 mmol·cm^-2·h^-1·L^-1 at -0.7 V vs RHE. Our study provides a novel approach for the design of efficient photocathodes for CO₂ reduction.

Converting CO2 into Value-Added Products by Cu2 O-Based Catalysts: From Photocatalysis, Electrocatalysis to Photoelectrocatalysis

Converting CO₂ into value-added products by photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and photoelectrocatalysis is a promising method to alleviate the global environmental problems and energy crisis. Among the semiconductor materials applied in CO₂ catalytic reduction, Cu₂ O has the advantages of abundant reserves, low price and environmental friendliness. Moreover, Cu₂ O has unique adsorption and activation properties for CO₂ , which is conducive to the generation of C₂₊ products through CC coupling. This review introduces the basic principles of CO₂ reduction and summarizes the pathways for the generation of C₁ , C₂ , and C₂₊ products. The factors affecting CO₂ reduction performance are further discussed from the perspective of the reaction environment, medium, and novel reactor design. Then, the properties of Cu₂ O-based catalysts in CO₂ reduction are summarized and several optimization strategies to enhance their stability and redox capacity are discussed. Subsequently, the application of Cu₂ O-based catalysts in photocatalytic, electrocatalytic, and photoelectrocatalytic CO₂ reduction is described. Finally, the opportunities, challenges and several research directions of Cu₂ O-based catalysts in the field of CO₂ catalytic reduction are presented, which is guidance for its wide application in the energy and environmental fields is provided.

Efficient electrochemical NO reduction to NH3 over metal-free g-C3N4 nanosheets and the role of interface microenvironment

The ever-increasing NO emission has caused severe environmental issues and adverse effects on human health. Electrocatalytic reduction is regarded as a win-win technology for NO treatment with value-added NH₃ generation, but the process is mainly relied on the metal-containing electrocatalysts. Here, we developed metal-free g-C₃N₄ nanosheets (deposited on carbon paper, named as CNNS/CP) for NH₃ synthesis from electrochemical NO reduction under ambient condition. The CNNS/CP electrode afforded excellent NH₃ yield rate of 15.1 μmol h^-1 cm^-2 (2180.1 mg g_cat^-1 h^-1) and Faradic efficiency (FE) of ∼41.5 % at - 0.8 and - 0.6 V_RHE, respectively, which were superior to the block g-C₃N₄ particles and comparable to the most of metal-containing catalysts. Moreover, through adjusting the interface microenvironment of CNNS/CP electrode by hydrophobic treatment, the abundant gas-liquid-solid triphasic interface improved NO mass transfer and availability, which enhanced NH₃ production and FE to about 30.7 μmol h^-1 cm^-2 (4424.2 mg g_cat^-1 h^-1) and 45.6 % at potential of - 0.8 V_RHE. This study opens a novel pathway to develop efficient metal-free electrocatalysts for NO electroreduction and highlights the importance of electrode interface microenvironment in electrocatalysis.

Renewable formate from sunlight, biomass and carbon dioxide in a photoelectrochemical cell

The sustainable production of chemicals and fuels from abundant solar energy and renewable carbon sources provides a promising route to reduce climate-changing CO₂ emissions and our dependence on fossil resources. Here, we demonstrate solar-powered formate production from readily available biomass wastes and CO₂ feedstocks via photoelectrochemistry. Non-precious NiOOH/α-Fe₂O₃ and Bi/GaN/Si wafer were used as photoanode and photocathode, respectively. Concurrent photoanodic biomass oxidation and photocathodic CO₂ reduction towards formate with high Faradaic efficiencies over 85% were achieved at both photoelectrodes. The integrated biomass-CO₂ photoelectrolysis system reduces the cell voltage by 32% due to the thermodynamically favorable biomass oxidation over conventional water oxidation. Moreover, we show solar-driven formate production with a record-high yield of 23.3 μmol cm^-2 h^-1 as well as high robustness using the hybrid photoelectrode system. The present work opens opportunities for sustainable chemical and fuel production using abundant and renewable resources on earth-sunlight, biomass and CO₂.

Pt nanoclusters on GaN nanowires for solar-asssisted seawater hydrogen evolution

Seawater electrolysis provides a viable method to produce clean hydrogen fuel. To date, however, the realization of high performance photocathodes for seawater hydrogen evolution reaction has remained challenging. Here, we introduce n⁺-p Si photocathodes with dramatically improved activity and stability for hydrogen evolution reaction in seawater, modified by Pt nanoclusters anchored on GaN nanowires. We find that Pt-Ga sites at the Pt/GaN interface promote the dissociation of water molecules and spilling H* over to neighboring Pt atoms for efficient H₂ production. Pt/GaN/Si photocathodes achieve a current density of -10 mA/cm² at 0.15 and 0.39 V vs. RHE and high applied bias photon-to-current efficiency of 1.7% and 7.9% in seawater (pH = 8.2) and phosphate-buffered seawater (pH = 7.4), respectively. We further demonstrate a record-high photocurrent density of ~169 mA/cm² under concentrated solar light (9 suns). Moreover, Pt/GaN/Si can continuously produce H₂ even under dark conditions by simply switching the electrical contact. This work provides valuable guidelines to design an efficient, stable, and energy-saving electrode for H₂ generation by seawater splitting.

Back-illuminated photoelectrochemical flow cell for efficient CO2 reduction

Photoelectrochemical CO2 reduction reaction flow cells are promising devices to meet the requirements to produce solar fuels at the industrial scale. Photoelectrodes with wide bandgaps do not allow for efficient CO2 reduction at high current densities, while the integration of opaque photoelectrodes with narrow bandgaps in flow cell configurations still remains a challenge. This paper describes the design and fabrication of a back-illuminated Si photoanode promoted PEC flow cell for CO2 reduction reaction. The illumination area and catalytic sites of the Si photoelectrode are decoupled, owing to the effective passivation of defect states that allows for the long minority carrier diffusion length, that surpasses the thickness of the Si substrate. Hence, a solar-to-fuel conversion efficiency of CO of 2.42% and a Faradaic efficiency of 90% using Ag catalysts are achieved. For CO2 to C2+ products, the Faradaic efficiency of 53% and solar-to-fuel of 0.29% are achieved using Cu catalyst in flow cell.

Progress and perspectives on 1D nanostructured catalysts applied in photo(electro)catalytic reduction of CO2

Reducing CO₂ into value-added chemicals and fuels by artificial photosynthesis (photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis) is one of the considerable solutions to global environmental and energy issues. One-dimensional (1D) nanostructured catalysts (nanowires, nanorods, nanotubes and so on.) have attracted extensive attention due to their superior light-harvesting ability, co-catalyst loading capacity, and high carrier separation rate. This review analyzed the basic principle of the photo(electro)catalytic CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂ RR) briefly. The preparation methods and properties of 1D nanostructured catalysts are introduced. Next, the applications of 1D nanostructured catalysts in the field of photo(electro)catalytic CO₂ RR are introduced in detail. In particular, we introduced the design of composite catalysts with 1D nanostructures, for example loading 0D, 1D, 2D, and 3D materials on a 1D nanostructured semiconductor to construct a heterojunction to optimize the photo-response range, carrier separation and transport efficiency, CO₂ adsorption and activation capacity, and stability of the catalyst. Finally, the development prospects of 1D nanostructured catalysts are discussed and summarized. This review can provide guidance for the rational design of advanced catalysts for photo(electro)catalytic CO₂ RR.

Oxynitride-surface engineering of rhodium-decorated gallium nitride for efficient thermocatalytic hydrogenation of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide

Upcycling of carbon dioxide towards fuels and value-added chemicals poses an opportunity to overcome challenges faced by depleting fossil fuels and climate change. Herein, combining highly controllable molecular beam epitaxy growth of gallium nitride (GaN) under a nitrogen-rich atmosphere with subsequent air annealing, a tunable platform of gallium oxynitride (GaN_1-xO_x) nanowires is built to anchor rhodium (Rh) nanoparticles for carbon dioxide hydrogenation. By correlatively employing various spectroscopic and microscopic characterizations, as well as density functional theory calculations, it is revealed that the engineered oxynitride surface of GaN works in synergy with Rh to achieve a dramatically reduced energy barrier. Meanwhile, the potential-determining step is switched from *COOH formation into *CO desorption. As a result, significantly improved CO activity of 127 mmol‧g_cat^-1‧h^-1 is achieved with high selectivity of >94% at 290 °C under atmospheric pressure, which is three orders of magnitude higher than that of commercial Rh/Al₂O₃. Furthermore, capitalizing on the high dispersion of the Rh species, the architecture illustrates a decent turnover frequency of 270 mol CO per mol Rh per hour over 9 cycles of operation. This work presents a viable strategy for promoting CO₂ refining via surface engineering of an advanced support, in collaboration with a suitable metal cocatalyst.

Aqueous CO2 Reduction on Si Photocathodes Functionalized by Cobalt Molecular Catalysts/Carbon Nanotubes

Photoelectrochemical reduction of CO₂ is a promising approach for renewable fuel production. We herein report a novel strategy for preparation of hybrid photocathodes by immobilizing molecular cobalt catalysts on TiO₂ -protected n⁺ -p Si electrodes (Si|TiO₂ ) coated with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by π-π stacking. Upon loading a composite of Co^II (BrqPy) (BrqPy=4',4''-bis(4-bromophenyl)-2,2' : 6',2'' : 6'',2'''-quaterpyridine) catalyst and CNT on Si|TiO₂ , a stable 1-Sun photocurrent density of -1.5 mA cm^-2 was sustained over 2 h in a neutral aqueous solution with unity Faradaic efficiency and selectivity for CO production at a bias of zero overpotential (-0.11 V vs. RHE), associated with a turnover frequency (TOF_CO ) of 2.7 s^-1 . Extending the photoelectrocatalysis to 10 h, a remarkable turnover number (TON_CO ) of 57000 was obtained. The high performance shown here is substantially improved from the previously reported photocathodes relying on covalently anchored catalysts.