Articles tagged with "photocatalysis"
Chinese team develops sunlight-assisted lithium–sulfur battery
Researchers at Northwestern Polytechnical University in China have developed a sunlight-assisted lithium–sulfur battery that addresses key challenges in lithium–sulfur technology, notably the slow and inefficient sulfur chemistry. By integrating a flexible photoelectrode composed of polypyrrole-modified, nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide grown on carbon cloth, the battery uses light to accelerate sulfur redox reactions during charging. A polymer–TiO2 layer creates an internal electric field that effectively separates charges, reducing recombination and enhancing the use of visible light to drive chemical processes. This design enables near-theoretical energy storage performance, partial solar charging, and improved cycling stability. The new battery demonstrates significant performance improvements: the resistance to sulfur reactions (Tafel slope) decreases from 122 to 48 mV per decade, lithium sulfide nucleation time shortens from 3,600 to 3,010 seconds, and capacity increases by 17%. It can harvest energy both electrically and via sunlight, achieving a solar-to
energylithium-sulfur-batterysolar-chargingphotocatalysisbattery-technologyrenewable-energyenergy-storageBreakthrough method produces hydrogen without scarce, costly platinum
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have developed a novel method to produce hydrogen gas efficiently and sustainably without relying on the scarce and costly metal platinum. Their approach uses sunlight, water, and electrically conductive plastic nanoparticles—specifically conjugated polymers—that have been molecularly engineered to be more water-compatible and hydrophilic. These nanoparticles act as photocatalysts, absorbing light and facilitating hydrogen production through photocatalysis, with performance that can surpass traditional platinum-based systems at a significantly lower cost. A key innovation lies in the advanced materials design that allows the plastic particles to interact effectively with water and sunlight, overcoming previous limitations of conjugated polymers. In laboratory tests, hydrogen bubbles are visibly produced, demonstrating the process's efficiency. Currently, the system requires vitamin C as a sacrificial antioxidant to maintain the reaction, but the research team aims to achieve overall water splitting—producing hydrogen and oxygen simultaneously—using only sunlight and water without additives. This breakthrough represents an important step toward scalable, environmentally friendly
energyhydrogen-productionphotocatalysisconductive-polymersrenewable-energysustainable-materialssolar-energyStored sunlight drives hydrogen generation in the dark, no power needed
Researchers have developed a novel liquid-based system that stores solar energy chemically and later generates hydrogen gas in complete darkness without requiring external electricity, wires, batteries, or power grids. The system mimics photosynthesis by first capturing sunlight and converting it into "stored electrons" within a solution composed of two inexpensive, commercially available materials: graphitic carbon nitride (a visible-light-absorbing photocatalyst) and ammonium metatungstate (a tungsten-oxygen cluster that acts like a rechargeable electron storage unit). Methanol is added to the water-based solution to prevent rapid electron-hole recombination, enabling efficient electron storage. Under blue light, electrons generated by carbon nitride transfer to tungsten clusters, reducing tungsten atoms and visibly changing the solution’s color, signaling successful solar energy storage. When illumination stops, the stored electrons remain stable until a platinum-on-carbon catalyst is introduced in the dark, triggering hydrogen production by combining electrons with protons from water. This decouples sunlight capture, energy storage, and hydrogen
energysolar-energy-storagehydrogen-generationphotocatalysisgraphitic-carbon-nitridetungsten-clustersrenewable-energySunlight helps convert methane into ethylene in clean new process
Researchers led by University of Queensland’s Professor Lianzhou Wang have developed a novel solar-powered process that converts methane—a potent greenhouse gas—into ethylene, a valuable chemical used in plastics and textiles. Unlike traditional methane conversion methods that require extremely high temperatures and are energy-intensive, this new approach uses Australia’s abundant sunlight and a palladium–gold alloy catalyst combined with titanium dioxide to drive the reaction. The catalyst uniquely alters the reaction pathway to favor ethylene production rather than over-oxidizing methane into carbon dioxide, thereby offering a cleaner and more energy-efficient alternative. This innovation not only promises to reduce methane emissions at their source, particularly from agriculture and coal mining in Australia, but also transforms harmful emissions into economically valuable products. The researchers envision deploying photocatalyst beds near methane-rich sites, such as livestock facilities, to capture and convert methane onsite using sunlight. While the current catalyst relies on costly metals like gold and palladium, ongoing research aims to find cheaper alternatives such as iron to make the process
energyrenewable-energymethane-conversionphotocatalysiscatalyst-developmentsolar-powerclean-technologyUK scientists' artificial leaf turns CO2, sunlight into useful chemicals
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a novel hybrid device, described as a “semi-artificial leaf,” that mimics natural photosynthesis to convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into useful chemicals, specifically formate. This innovation combines light-harvesting organic polymers with bacterial enzymes, avoiding toxic semiconductors used in earlier prototypes. The device operates without external power or additional chemicals, demonstrating improved stability and efficiency, running continuously for over 24 hours—more than twice the duration of previous models. This breakthrough offers a promising pathway toward the “de-fossilisation” of the chemical industry, which currently relies heavily on fossil fuels and accounts for about 6% of global carbon emissions. By using organic semiconductors as the light-harvesting component—a first in biohybrid devices—the researchers achieved near-perfect electron efficiency in fuel production and successfully integrated the system into a domino chemical reaction to produce pharmaceutical compounds with high yield and purity. The team aims to further enhance the device’s lifespan
energymaterialsartificial-leaforganic-semiconductorssustainable-chemistrycarbon-dioxide-conversionphotocatalysisNew sun-powered film purifies highly contaminated water in minutes
Researchers at Sun Yat-sen University in China have developed a novel self-floating photocatalytic film powered by sunlight that can purify highly contaminated water by killing over 99.995% of bacteria within minutes. This film uses a specially engineered conjugated polymer photocatalyst called Cz-AQ, which generates long-lived oxygen-centered organic radicals (OCORs) when exposed to sunlight and water. These radicals not only eliminate bacteria such as E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus but also break down pollutants and inhibit bacterial regrowth for at least five days. The film demonstrated the ability to disinfect 10 liters of contaminated water within 40 minutes under low natural sunlight, outperforming conventional photocatalysts that are ineffective in such conditions. The technology addresses critical limitations of existing water purification methods, such as chlorination—which can produce harmful byproducts—and UV treatment, which requires high energy input. Unlike traditional photocatalysts that rely on short-lived reactive oxygen species, the Cz-AQ-based film maintains
energymaterialsphotocatalysiswater-purificationsustainable-technologysolar-energyantibacterial-filmScientists use light to clean wastewater with ceramic foam formula
Researchers at Fraunhofer IKTS in Dresden have developed innovative UV-activated ceramic foam materials designed to purify industrial process water and wastewater by breaking down persistent pollutants such as pharmaceuticals, pesticides, industrial chemicals, microplastics, dyes, and PFAS. These multifunctional foam ceramics use photocatalytic oxidation, where UV light exposure generates reactive radicals on the foam’s functionalized surfaces that decompose organic impurities without producing harmful by-products or requiring additional oxidizing agents like ozone. The foam’s highly porous structure (up to 90% open porosity) provides extensive surface area for catalyst coatings and excellent light penetration, enabling efficient pollutant degradation even with thin catalyst layers that are stabilized to prevent washout. Fraunhofer IKTS is actively developing complete wastewater treatment systems incorporating these ceramic foams, optimized reactor designs, and energy-efficient UV LEDs tailored to client needs across industries including pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, paper, dairy, and textiles. By enabling on-site treatment, the technology prevents harmful substances from
materialsenergywastewater-treatmentphotocatalysisceramic-foamUV-lightenvironmental-technologyHot electrons from quantum dots break tough bonds using 99% less energy
Researchers at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have developed a groundbreaking photocatalytic system using manganese-doped CdS/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) that can break strong chemical bonds with 99% less energy than traditional methods. By harnessing a quantum effect known as the two-photon spin-exchange Auger process, these QDs efficiently generate "hot electrons"—high-energy electrons capable of driving challenging reactions previously thought too difficult for light-based catalysis. This approach allows two low-energy photons to combine their energy inside a quantum dot, producing a powerful electron that can cleave tough bonds such as C–Cl, C–Br, C–I, C–O, C–C, and N–S, and perform reductions on molecules with extremely negative potentials (down to −3.4 V vs. SCE). The system notably enables reactions like the Birch reduction, traditionally requiring harsh conditions like liquid ammonia and alkali metals, to proceed under
quantum-dotshot-electronsphotocatalysisnanomaterialsenergy-efficiencychemical-bondsphotoreductionSouth Korea turns plastic bottles into hydrogen with solar power
Scientists at South Korea’s Institute for Basic Science (IBS) Center for Nanoparticle Research, led by Professors Kim Dae-Hyeong and Hyeon Taeghwan, have developed an innovative photocatalytic system that converts plastic waste, specifically PET bottles, into clean hydrogen fuel using sunlight. This system addresses the inefficiencies and greenhouse gas emissions associated with conventional hydrogen production methods by harnessing solar energy to break down plastics into byproducts like ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid while releasing hydrogen. A key advancement is the stabilization of the catalyst within a polymer network at the air-water interface, which prevents common issues such as catalyst loss and reverse reactions, enabling stable operation for over two months even in harsh alkaline conditions. The technology was successfully tested outdoors with a one-square-meter device that produced hydrogen from dissolved plastic bottles under natural sunlight. Its floatable catalyst design allows it to function in various water environments, including seawater and tap water. Importantly, simulations indicate the system can
energyclean-energyhydrogen-productionphotocatalysisplastic-recyclingsolar-powersustainable-technologyJapan: Scientists develop new trick to trap ammonia from air, water
energyammonia-productionartificial-photosynthesiscatalystssustainable-agriculturecarbon-emissionsphotocatalysis