Full‐Spectrum Solar‐Light‐Activated Photocatalysts for Light–Chemical Energy Conversion

• Published in: Advanced energy materials Vol. 7; no. 23
• Main Authors: Wang, Xiaoning, Wang, Fulei, Sang, Yuanhua, Liu, Hong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 06-12-2017
• Subjects: Catalysis; Chemical energy; Electromagnetic absorption; Energy; Energy consumption; Energy conversion; Energy storage; full‐spectrum solar light; Infrared radiation; Light; Photocatalysis; Photocatalysts; Photonics; Photothermal conversion; Photovoltaic cells
• ISSN: 1614-6832; 1614-6840
• DOI: 10.1002/aenm.201700473

The realization of light–chemical energy conversion using solar light is an ideal goal in renewable energy studies. Many reports are concerned with extracting energy from solar light and the use/storage of the converted energy. Due to the progress in solar light absorption with various photocatalysts, the various energy conversion mechanisms using different photonic energies should be summarized. Therefore, the photocatalytic work that light can achieve with a certain photonic energy range, from UV light to visible light to near‐infrared light, is summarized in this review, including the most recent progress concerning light–chemical conversion mechanisms, classified as photocatalytic redox and photothermal catalysis. This review mostly concerns the mechanisms and specific strategies of light–chemical energy conversion based on various photonic energies.
The energy conversion from solar light to chemical is one of the most important areas of research in renewable energy studies. The photocatalytic work that light can achieve with a certain photonic energy range, from UV light to visible light to near‐infrared light, is summarized. The mechanisms and specific strategies of light–chemical energy conversion based on various photonic energies are discussed.