Starvyes

A plasmon-induced water splitting system that operates under irradiation by visible light is described by H. Misawa et al. in their Communication on page 10350 ff. The system uses both sides of the same strontium titanate single-crystal substrate to separate hydrogen and oxygen. The chemical bias is substantially reduced by plasmonic effects because of efficient water oxidation.

Photocatalytic reduction of CO₂ into hydrocarbon fuels, an artificial photosynthesis, is based on the simulation of natural photosynthesis in green plants, whereby O₂ and carbohydrates are produced from H₂O and CO₂ using sunlight as an energy source. It couples the reductive half-reaction of CO₂ fixation with a matched oxidative half-reaction such as water oxidation, to achieve a carbon neutral cycle, which is like killing two birds with one stone in terms of saving the environment and supplying future energy. The present review provides an overview and highlights recent state-of-the-art accomplishments of overcoming the drawback of low photoconversion efficiency and selectivity through the design of highly active photocatalysts from the point of adsorption of reactants, charge separation and transport, light harvesting, and CO₂ activation. It specifically includes: i) band-structure engineering, ii) nanostructuralization, iii) surface oxygen vacancy engineering, iv) macro-/meso-/microporous structuralization, v) exposed facet engineering, vi) co-catalysts, vii) the development of a Z-scheme system. The challenges and prospects for future development of this field are also present.

Recent state-of-the-art accomplishments of overcoming the drawback of low photo­conversion efficiency and selectivity through the design of highly active photo­catalysts, from the point of view of adsorption of reactants, charge separation and transport, light harvesting, and CO₂ activation are reviewed.

X.-B. Zhang and co-workers report on page 2273 aligned porous CuO nanorod arrays obtained by a facile and scalable in situ engraving Cu foil method. When directly used as a flexible and binder-free sodium-ion battery anode without adding auxiliary materials, a superior electrochemical performance, including cycle stability and rate capability even at room temperature, are obtained. This can be attributed to the unique array structure and the binder-free electrode.

The highest solar photocurrent among all currently available tantalum nitride (Ta₃N₅) photoanodes is obtained by oxidation and nitridation of tantalum foils, as described by W. Luo, Z. Zou et al. in their Communication on page 11011 ff. The high photocurrent mainly originates from the facile thermal or mechanical exfoliation of surface recombination centers.