Getting the Most out of Solar Irradiation: Efficient Use of Polychromatic Light for Water Splitting

Optimizing reaction conditions for the light-driven hydrogen evolution in a loop photoreactor

Photocatalytic hydrogen production from water is a promising way to fulfill energy demands and attain carbon emission reduction goals effectively. In this study, a loop photoreactor with a total volume of around 500 mL is presented for the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution using a Pt-loaded polymeric carbon nitride photocatalyst under 365 nm irradiation in the presence of sacrificial reducing agents. The fluid flow pattern of the developed photoreactor was characterized experimentally and the photon flux incident to the loop photoreactor was measured by chemical actinometry. The system displayed exceptional stability, with operation sustained over 70 hours. A design of experiment (DOE) analysis was used to systematically investigate the influence of key parameters - photon flux, photocatalyst loading, stirring speed, and inert gas flow rate - on the hydrogen generation rate. Linear relationships were found between hydrogen evolution rate and photon flux as well as inert gas flow rate. Photocatalyst loading and stirring speed also showed linear correlations, but could not be correctly described by DOE analysis. Instead, linear single parameter correlations could be applied. Notably, the loop photoreactor demonstrated an external photon efficiency up to 17 times higher than reported in literature studies, while scaling the reactor size by a factor of 10.

Comparative Evaluation of Light-Driven Catalysis: A Framework for Standardized Reporting of Data

Light-driven homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis require a complex interplay between light absorption, charge separation, charge transfer, and catalytic turnover. Optical and irradiation parameters as well as reaction engineering aspects play major roles in controlling catalytic performance. This multitude of factors makes it difficult to objectively compare light-driven catalysts and provide an unbiased performance assessment. This Scientific Perspective highlights the importance of collecting and reporting experimental data in homogeneous and heterogeneous light-driven catalysis. A critical analysis of the benefits and limitations of the commonly used experimental indicators is provided. Data collection and reporting according to FAIR principles is discussed in the context of future automated data analysis. The authors propose a minimum dataset as a basis for unified collecting and reporting of experimental data in homogeneous and heterogeneous light-driven catalysis. The community is encouraged to support the future development of this parameter list through an open online repository.

Energy-Efficient Solar Photochemistry with Luminescent Solar Concentrator Based Photomicroreactors

The sun is the most sustainable light source available on our planet, therefore the direct use of sunlight for photochemistry is extremely appealing. Demonstrated here, for the first time, is that a diverse set of photon-driven transformations can be efficiently powered by solar irradiation with the use of solvent-resistant and cheap luminescent solar concentrator based photomicroreactors. Blue, green, and red reactors can accommodate both homogeneous and multiphase reaction conditions, including photochemical oxidations, photocatalytic trifluoromethylation chemistry, and metallaphotoredox transformations, thus spanning applications over the entire visible-light spectrum. To further illustrate the efficacy of these novel solar reactors, medicinally relevant molecules, such as ascaridole and an intermediate of artemisinin, were prepared as well.