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Achieving a solar-to-chemical efficiency of 3.6% in ambient conditions by inhibiting interlayer charges transport

Author

Listed:
  • Yuyan Huang

    (Sun Yat-sen University)

  • Minhui Shen

    (Sun Yat-sen University)

  • Huijie Yan

    (Sun Yat-sen University)

  • Yingge He

    (Sun Yat-sen University)

  • Jianqiao Xu

    (Sun Yat-sen University)

  • Fang Zhu

    (Sun Yat-sen University)

  • Xin Yang

    (Sun Yat-sen University)

  • Yu-Xin Ye

    (Sun Yat-sen University
    Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai))

  • Gangfeng Ouyang

    (Sun Yat-sen University
    Sun Yat-sen University
    Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai))

Abstract

Efficiently converting solar energy into chemical energy remains a formidable challenge in artificial photosynthetic systems. To date, rarely has an artificial photosynthetic system operating in the open air surpassed the highest solar-to-biomass conversion efficiency (1%) observed in plants. In this study, we present a three-dimension polymeric photocatalyst achieving a solar-to-H2O2 conversion efficiency of 3.6% under ambient conditions, including real water, open air, and room temperature. The impressive performance is attributed to the efficient storage of electrons inside materials via expeditious intramolecular charge transfer, and the fast extraction of the stored electrons by O2 that can diffuse into the internal pores of the self-supporting three-dimensional material. This construction strategy suppresses the interlayer transfer of excitons, polarizers and carriers, effectively increases the utilization of internal excitons to 82%. This breakthrough provides a perspective to substantially enhance photocatalytic performance and bear substantial implications for sustainable energy generation and environmental remediation.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuyan Huang & Minhui Shen & Huijie Yan & Yingge He & Jianqiao Xu & Fang Zhu & Xin Yang & Yu-Xin Ye & Gangfeng Ouyang, 2024. "Achieving a solar-to-chemical efficiency of 3.6% in ambient conditions by inhibiting interlayer charges transport," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-49373-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49373-z
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