Construction of complex copper-cobalt selenide hollow structures as an attractive battery-type electrode material for hybrid supercapacitors

α-MnS@Co3S4 hollow nanospheres assembled from nanosheets for hybrid supercapacitors

Co-MOF/polyaniline-based electrode material for high performance supercapattery devices

Hydrothermal electrodeposition incorporated with CVD-polymerisation to tune PPy@MnO2 interlinked core-shell nanowires on carbon fabric for flexible solid-state asymmetric supercapacitors

Double perovskite La2CoMnO6 hollow spheres prepared by template impregnation for high-performance supercapacitors

: Solar H 2 production is considered as a potentially promising way to utilize solar energy and tackle climate change stemming from the combustion of fossil fuels. Photocatalytic, photoelectrochemical, photovoltaic − electrochemical, solar thermochemical, photothermal catalytic, and photobiological technologies are the most intensively studied routes for solar H 2 production. In this Focus Review, we provide a comprehensive review of these technologies. After a brief introduction of the principles and mechanisms of these technologies, the recent achievements in solar H 2 production are summarized, with a particular focus on the high solar-to-H 2 (STH) conversion e ﬃ ciency achieved by each route. We then comparatively analyze and evaluate these technologies based on the metrics of STH e ﬃ ciency, durability, economic viability, and environmental sustainability, aiming to assess the commercial feasibility of these solar technologies compared with current industrial H 2 production processes. Finally, the challenges and prospects of future research on solar H 2 production technologies are presented.

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acsenergylett.1c02591

Solar-Driven Hydrogen Production: Recent Advances, Challenges, and Future Perspectives

Partly nitrogenized nickel oxide hollow spheres with multiple compositions for remarkable electrochemical performance

Photothermal catalytic CO2 reduction has emerged as a promising approach to efficiently utilize solar energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Designing novel catalyst with high activity and selectivity is essential and challenging for practical applications of photothermal CO2 reduction. Herein, we report that natural halloysite nanotubes-supported Ru nanoparticles can boost the photothermal catalytic activity and selectivity of CO2 methanation under continuous flow conditions. The photothermal catalytic performance of optimized catalyst is up to 1704 mmolCH4 gcat−1 h−1 with 93% CH4 selectivity and 68% CO2 conversion, outperforming any other Ru-based catalysts in photothermal CO2 reduction. Mechanistic studies show that the outstanding catalytic performance is mainly attributed to the unique mesoporous tubular structure, excellent ability of light-to-heat and interfacial interactions between the halloysite nanotubes and Ru. This method of utilizing natural minerals as support provides a facile avenue for rational design of abundant and low-cost catalysts for efficient photothermal catalytic CO2 reduction. 

Natural halloysite nanotubes supported Ru as highly active catalyst for photothermal catalytic CO2 reduction

In a recent issue of Nature Communications, Ozin, Wang, and co-workers report a new black indium oxide for photothermal tandem CO2 hydrogenation to methanol via CO2 hydrogenation to CO and CO hydrogenation. The tandem methanol synthesis strategy illustrates an important step toward catalytic synthesis of solar methanol. In a recent issue of Nature Communications, Ozin, Wang, and co-workers report a new black indium oxide for photothermal tandem CO2 hydrogenation to methanol via CO2 hydrogenation to CO and CO hydrogenation. The tandem methanol synthesis strategy illustrates an important step toward catalytic synthesis of solar methanol. 

Photothermal tandem catalysis for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol

Photocatalysis is a promising approach to directly convert methane to value-added chemicals and fuels under mild conditions and in a sustainable manner. The direct and selective production of liquid oxygenates and higher hydrocarbons have been realized in photocatalytic methane conversion under aerobic or anaerobic conditions. The elegant construction of semiconductor materials and the reasonable utilization of cocatalysts allow precise control of overoxidation and efficient generation of the desired products. The fundamental understanding of the mechanism of photocatalytic methane conversion can contribute to the development of new pathways for energy-efficient methane conversion. Direct conversion of methane to value-added chemicals provides a promising alternative to industrial energy-intensive processes, but still faces many technological and economical challenges. Heterogeneous photocatalysis possesses great promise to drive direct methane conversion under mild conditions. In this review, we present the latest advances in direct photocatalytic conversion of methane to liquid oxygenates and higher hydrocarbons, with an emphasis on the strategies for the rational design of photocatalysts to improve the activity and selectivity of the desired products, and discuss the current challenges and our perspectives on opportunities for further development of photocatalytic systems that can enable highly selective and efficient conversion of methane to valuable chemicals. Direct conversion of methane to value-added chemicals provides a promising alternative to industrial energy-intensive processes, but still faces many technological and economical challenges. Heterogeneous photocatalysis possesses great promise to drive direct methane conversion under mild conditions. In this review, we present the latest advances in direct photocatalytic conversion of methane to liquid oxygenates and higher hydrocarbons, with an emphasis on the strategies for the rational design of photocatalysts to improve the activity and selectivity of the desired products, and discuss the current challenges and our perspectives on opportunities for further development of photocatalytic systems that can enable highly selective and efficient conversion of methane to valuable chemicals. the ratio of the number of reacted electrons to the number of incident photons. It is a common a criterion for evaluating the efficiency of a photocatalyst in photocatalysis. a transition metal or metal oxide that can accept photogenerated electrons or holes from semiconductor and provide active sites for redox reactions. an endothermic reaction in which methane is transformed into hydrogen and higher hydrocarbons such as ethane (2CH4 → H2 + C2H6, ΔG0298K = 68.6 kJ mol–1). constructed by a platinum electrode into a solution of 1 M strong acid solution protons and bubbling pure hydrogen gas through the solution at a pressure of one atmosphere and a temperature of 25°C. It is used as a reference electrode to determine the potentials of reactions. an exothermic reaction in which methane is reacted with oxygen to produce ethane and/or ethene (4CH4 + O2 → 2C2H6 + 2H2O, ΔG0298K = –320 kJ mol–1; 2CH4 + O2 →C2H4 + 2H2O, ΔG0298K = –288 kJ mol–1). an exothermic reaction in which methane is reacted with oxygen to produce methanol (2CH4 + O2 → 2CH3OH, ΔG0298K = –223 kJ mol–1). a strongly endothermic reaction in which methane is reacted with water to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide (CH4 + H2O → 3H2 + CO, ΔG0298K = 142 kJ mol–1). 

Huidong Song

Papers

Solar-Driven Hydrogen Production: Recent Advances, Challenges, and Future Perspectives

Partly nitrogenized nickel oxide hollow spheres with multiple compositions for remarkable electrochemical performance

Natural halloysite nanotubes supported Ru as highly active catalyst for photothermal catalytic CO2 reduction

Photothermal tandem catalysis for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol

Direct photocatalytic conversion of methane to value-added chemicals