The conversion of carbon dioxide into value-added products is of great industrial and environmental interest. However, as carbon dioxide is relatively stable, the input energy required for this conversion is a signifi...The conversion of carbon dioxide into value-added products is of great industrial and environmental interest. However, as carbon dioxide is relatively stable, the input energy required for this conversion is a significant limiting factor in the system's performance. By utilising energy from the sun, through a range of key routes, this limitation can be overcome. In this review, we present a comprehensive and critical overview of the potential routes to harvest the sun's energy, primarily through solar-thermal technologies and plasmonic resonance effects. Focusing on the localised heating approach, this review shortlists and compares viable catalysts for the photo-thermal catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide.Further, the pathways and potential products of different carbon dioxide conversion routes are outlined with the reverse water gas shift,methanation, and methanol synthesis being of key interest. Finally, the challenges in implementing such systems and the outlook to the future are detailed.展开更多
We report broadband all-fiber optical phase modulation based on the photo-thermal effect in a gas-filled hollow-core fiber.The phase modulation dynamics are studied by multi-physics simulation.A phase modulator is fab...We report broadband all-fiber optical phase modulation based on the photo-thermal effect in a gas-filled hollow-core fiber.The phase modulation dynamics are studied by multi-physics simulation.A phase modulator is fabricated using a 5.6-cm-long anti-resonant hollow-core fiber with pure acetylene filling.It has a half-wave optical power of 289 mW at 100 kHz and an average insertion loss 0.6 dB over a broad wavelength range from 1450 to 1650 nm.The rise and fall time constants are 3.5 and 3.7μs,respectively,2–3 orders of magnitude better than the previously reported microfiber-based photo-thermal phase modulators.The gas-filled hollow-core waveguide configuration is promising for optical phase modulation from ultraviolet to mid-infrared which is challenging to achieve with solid optical fibers.展开更多
Oxygen vacancy(Vo)is a significant component in defect engineering.The present work reports the anchoring effects of initial Vo for further loading modifications and the reducing capacity of photoinduced Vo for pure w...Oxygen vacancy(Vo)is a significant component in defect engineering.The present work reports the anchoring effects of initial Vo for further loading modifications and the reducing capacity of photoinduced Vo for pure water splitting.Herein,we propose Ni-loaded Cu-doped TiO_(2)(NCT)materials by successive doping and loading.The continuously added Ni ions should accumulate around the Vos and gradually grow into complete nickel oxide crystals,achieving a higher average valence state of the Ni species.NiO crystals can be detected on a 0.5%NCT sample,while the structure of Ni_(2)O_(3) has been confirmed with a higher nickel mass ratio.Moreover,the introduction of nickel oxide effectively improves the photochemical and electrochemical performance by the interface charge separation,finally reaching an H2 yield of 30.6 pmol/g-cat on 0.5%NCT for Vo-based photo-thermal coupling reaction,which consists of Vo generation in photo and Vo consumption in thermal environment.In situ infrared spectroscopy further indicated that the presence of high valence state nickel oxide hindered the H2 formation but effectively promoted the conventional oxidizing reaction,with an H2 yield of 20.6 mmol/g-cat in a methanol-water reaction on the 2.0%NCT material.In summary,Vo controls the morphological structure of Ni loading and produces diverse effects for reactions with dissimilar mechanisms,which provides a novel way to design modifications for promoting various chemical reactions.展开更多
Designing and manufacturing cost-effective absorbers that can cover the full-spectrum of solar irradiation is still critically important for solar harvesting.Utilizing control of the lightwave reflection and transmiss...Designing and manufacturing cost-effective absorbers that can cover the full-spectrum of solar irradiation is still critically important for solar harvesting.Utilizing control of the lightwave reflection and transmission,metamaterials realize high absorption over a relatively wide bandwidth.Here,a truncated circular cone metasurface(TCCM)composed of alternating multiple layers of titanium(Ti)and silicon dioxide(SiO_(2))is presented.Enabled by the synergetic of surface plasmon resonances and Fabry-Pérot resonances,the TCCM simultaneously achieves high absorptivity(exceed 90%),and absorption broadband covers almost the entire solar irradiation spectrum.In addition,the novel absorber exhibits great photo-thermal property.By exploiting the ultrahigh melting point of Ti and SiO_(2),high-efficiency solar irradiation absorption and heat release have been achieved at 700℃when the solar concentration ratio is 500(i.e.,incident light intensity at 5×10^(5) W/m^(2)).It is worth noting that the photo-thermal efficiency is almost unchanged when the incident angle increases from 0°to 45°.The outstanding capacity for solar harvesting and light-to-heat reported in this paper suggests that TCCM has great potential in photothermal therapies,solar desalination,and radiative cooling,etc.展开更多
The climate crisis necessitates the development of non-fossil energy sources.Harnessing solar energy for fuel production shows promise and offers the potential to utilize existing energy infrastructure.However,solar f...The climate crisis necessitates the development of non-fossil energy sources.Harnessing solar energy for fuel production shows promise and offers the potential to utilize existing energy infrastructure.However,solar fuel production is in its early stages of development,constrained by low conversion efficiency and challenges in scaling up production.Concentrated solar energy(CSE)technology has matured alongside the rapid growth of solar thermal power plants.This review provides an overview of current CSE methods and solar fuel production,analyzes their integration compatibility,and delves into the theoretical mechanisms by which CSE impacts solar energy conversion efficiency and product selectivity in the context of photo-electrochemistry,thermochemistry,and photo-thermal co-catalysis for solar fuel production.The review also summarizes approaches to studying the photoelectric and photothermal effects of CSE.Lastly,it explores emerging novel CSE technology methods in the field of solar fuel production.展开更多
文摘The conversion of carbon dioxide into value-added products is of great industrial and environmental interest. However, as carbon dioxide is relatively stable, the input energy required for this conversion is a significant limiting factor in the system's performance. By utilising energy from the sun, through a range of key routes, this limitation can be overcome. In this review, we present a comprehensive and critical overview of the potential routes to harvest the sun's energy, primarily through solar-thermal technologies and plasmonic resonance effects. Focusing on the localised heating approach, this review shortlists and compares viable catalysts for the photo-thermal catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide.Further, the pathways and potential products of different carbon dioxide conversion routes are outlined with the reverse water gas shift,methanation, and methanol synthesis being of key interest. Finally, the challenges in implementing such systems and the outlook to the future are detailed.
基金We are grateful for financial supports from the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2019YFB2203904)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U21A20506,62105122,61827820,62005233)+1 种基金the Shenzhen STIC Funding(RCBS20200714114819032)the Local Innovative and Research Teams Project of Guangdong Pear River Talents Program(2019BT02X105).
文摘We report broadband all-fiber optical phase modulation based on the photo-thermal effect in a gas-filled hollow-core fiber.The phase modulation dynamics are studied by multi-physics simulation.A phase modulator is fabricated using a 5.6-cm-long anti-resonant hollow-core fiber with pure acetylene filling.It has a half-wave optical power of 289 mW at 100 kHz and an average insertion loss 0.6 dB over a broad wavelength range from 1450 to 1650 nm.The rise and fall time constants are 3.5 and 3.7μs,respectively,2–3 orders of magnitude better than the previously reported microfiber-based photo-thermal phase modulators.The gas-filled hollow-core waveguide configuration is promising for optical phase modulation from ultraviolet to mid-infrared which is challenging to achieve with solid optical fibers.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51976190)the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation(LR18E060001)+1 种基金the Innovative Research Groups of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51621005)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2019FZA4013)。
文摘Oxygen vacancy(Vo)is a significant component in defect engineering.The present work reports the anchoring effects of initial Vo for further loading modifications and the reducing capacity of photoinduced Vo for pure water splitting.Herein,we propose Ni-loaded Cu-doped TiO_(2)(NCT)materials by successive doping and loading.The continuously added Ni ions should accumulate around the Vos and gradually grow into complete nickel oxide crystals,achieving a higher average valence state of the Ni species.NiO crystals can be detected on a 0.5%NCT sample,while the structure of Ni_(2)O_(3) has been confirmed with a higher nickel mass ratio.Moreover,the introduction of nickel oxide effectively improves the photochemical and electrochemical performance by the interface charge separation,finally reaching an H2 yield of 30.6 pmol/g-cat on 0.5%NCT for Vo-based photo-thermal coupling reaction,which consists of Vo generation in photo and Vo consumption in thermal environment.In situ infrared spectroscopy further indicated that the presence of high valence state nickel oxide hindered the H2 formation but effectively promoted the conventional oxidizing reaction,with an H2 yield of 20.6 mmol/g-cat in a methanol-water reaction on the 2.0%NCT material.In summary,Vo controls the morphological structure of Ni loading and produces diverse effects for reactions with dissimilar mechanisms,which provides a novel way to design modifications for promoting various chemical reactions.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.11804134 and 11464019)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province,China(Grant No.20202BBEL53036).
文摘Designing and manufacturing cost-effective absorbers that can cover the full-spectrum of solar irradiation is still critically important for solar harvesting.Utilizing control of the lightwave reflection and transmission,metamaterials realize high absorption over a relatively wide bandwidth.Here,a truncated circular cone metasurface(TCCM)composed of alternating multiple layers of titanium(Ti)and silicon dioxide(SiO_(2))is presented.Enabled by the synergetic of surface plasmon resonances and Fabry-Pérot resonances,the TCCM simultaneously achieves high absorptivity(exceed 90%),and absorption broadband covers almost the entire solar irradiation spectrum.In addition,the novel absorber exhibits great photo-thermal property.By exploiting the ultrahigh melting point of Ti and SiO_(2),high-efficiency solar irradiation absorption and heat release have been achieved at 700℃when the solar concentration ratio is 500(i.e.,incident light intensity at 5×10^(5) W/m^(2)).It is worth noting that the photo-thermal efficiency is almost unchanged when the incident angle increases from 0°to 45°.The outstanding capacity for solar harvesting and light-to-heat reported in this paper suggests that TCCM has great potential in photothermal therapies,solar desalination,and radiative cooling,etc.
基金support by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFB3803600)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52276212)+3 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(No.BK20231211)the Suzhou Science and Technology Program(SYG202101)the Key Research and Development Program in Shaanxi Province of China(No.2023-YBGY-300)the China Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities.
文摘The climate crisis necessitates the development of non-fossil energy sources.Harnessing solar energy for fuel production shows promise and offers the potential to utilize existing energy infrastructure.However,solar fuel production is in its early stages of development,constrained by low conversion efficiency and challenges in scaling up production.Concentrated solar energy(CSE)technology has matured alongside the rapid growth of solar thermal power plants.This review provides an overview of current CSE methods and solar fuel production,analyzes their integration compatibility,and delves into the theoretical mechanisms by which CSE impacts solar energy conversion efficiency and product selectivity in the context of photo-electrochemistry,thermochemistry,and photo-thermal co-catalysis for solar fuel production.The review also summarizes approaches to studying the photoelectric and photothermal effects of CSE.Lastly,it explores emerging novel CSE technology methods in the field of solar fuel production.
