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| Open AccessRobust metal ion-chelated polymer interfacial layer for ultraflexible non-fullerene organic solar cells
Simultaneously achieving high efficiency and mechanical robustness is challenging for ultraflexible organic solar cells. Here, Qin et al. present a robust interlayer of Zinc-chelated polyethylenimine (PEI-Zn) to facilitate the demonstration of efficient and mechanically robust ultraflexible solar cells.
- Fei Qin
- , Wen Wang
- & Yinhua Zhou
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Article
| Open AccessSurface chelation of cesium halide perovskite by dithiocarbamate for efficient and stable solar cells
Surface engineering is a known strategy to optimize the perovskite solar cells but it is usually based on weak bondings, such as Van der Waals, or coorordiating interacterions. Here He et al. report a chelation strategy using strongly adsorbed dithiocarbamate molecules and achieve high efficiency of 17.03% with excellent stability for CsPbI2Br based solar cells.
- Jingjing He
- , Junxian Liu
- & Hua Gui Yang
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Article
| Open AccessMicroscopic origins of performance losses in highly efficient Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin-film solar cells
Achieving higher efficiencies for thin-film solar cells always requires identification of the limiting factors. Here Krause et al. show that inhomogeneously distributed net doping or lifetime have little impact while recombination at grain boundaries is one of the main loss mechanisms for high performance Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells.
- Maximilian Krause
- , Aleksandra Nikolaeva
- & Daniel Abou-Ras
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Article
| Open AccessSpontaneous solar water splitting with decoupling of light absorption and electrocatalysis using silicon back-buried junction
The simultaneous management of optical, electrical, and catalytic properties is challenging for photoelectrochemical devices. Here, authors design Si back-buried junction photoelectrodes that can be series connected for unassisted water-splitting with a high solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 15.62%.
- Hui-Chun Fu
- , Purushothaman Varadhan
- & Jr-Hau He
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Article
| Open AccessPhotocatalytic hydrogen peroxide splitting on metal-free powders assisted by phosphoric acid as a stabilizer
While H2 can serve as a renewable fuel, its large scale production, storage, and transport are challenging. Here, authors show H2O2 to serve as a potential energy carrier via the photocatalytic production of H2 from stabilized H2O2 solutions and metal-free catalysts.
- Yasuhiro Shiraishi
- , Yuki Ueda
- & Takayuki Hirai
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Article
| Open AccessHighly active deficient ternary sulfide photoanode for photoelectrochemical water splitting
While water splitting could provide a means to utilize solar energy, identifying sufficiently stable and active semiconductors is challenging. Here, authors report a deficient CdIn2S4 photoanode with improved water splitting performances due to efficient charge separation/transfer kinetics.
- Haimei Wang
- , Yuguo Xia
- & Dairong Chen
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Article
| Open AccessDirect and indirect Z-scheme heterostructure-coupled photosystem enabling cooperation of CO2 reduction and H2O oxidation
The stoichiometric photoreaction of CO2 with H2O is one of the big challenges in photocatalysis. An artificial photosynthetic system based on a direct and indirect Z-scheme heterostructure is synthesised, enabling simultaneous CO2 reduction to HCOOH and H2O oxidation to O2.
- Ying Wang
- , Xiaotong Shang
- & Can Li
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Article
| Open AccessExamining the surface evolution of LaTiOxNy an oxynitride solar water splitting photocatalyst
While solar-driven water splitting may afford a renewable means to harvest energy, it is essential to understand how photocatalysts transform during catalysis. Here, authors study LaTiOxNy films by surface-sensitive techniques before and after photoelectrochemical water splitting.
- Craig Lawley
- , Maarten Nachtegaal
- & Thomas Lippert
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Article
| Open AccessIntermolecular cascaded π-conjugation channels for electron delivery powering CO2 photoreduction
While conversion of CO2 to fuels may offer a bio-inspired means to renewably utilize fossil fuel emission, most materials demonstrate poor activities for CO2 reduction. Here, authors construct conjugated polymers that modulate photo-induced electron transfer to CO2 reduction catalysts.
- Shengyao Wang
- , Xiao Hai
- & Jinhua Ye
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Article
| Open AccessA prenucleation strategy for ambient fabrication of perovskite solar cells with high device performance uniformity
Ambient processing of perovskite solar cells is desired but the resulting cell performance is poor due to the negative effects of moisture on film fabrication. Here Zhang et al. propose a prenucleation strategy to overcome the moisture effect, achieving good film quality and high and uniform cell performance.
- Kai Zhang
- , Zheng Wang
- & Shihe Yang
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Article
| Open AccessBenchmark performance of low-cost Sb2Se3 photocathodes for unassisted solar overall water splitting
While photoelectrochemical water splitting offers an integrated means to convert sunlight to a renewable fuel, cost-effective light-absorbers are rare. Here, authors report Sb2Se3 photocathodes for high-performance photoelectrochemical water splitting devices.
- Wooseok Yang
- , Jin Hyun Kim
- & Jooho Moon
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Article
| Open AccessTemplated growth of oriented layered hybrid perovskites on 3D-like perovskites
The orientation of layered perovskites plays a crucial role in their charge transport behavior and hence, the efficiency of related solar cells. Here, the authors find that preformed 3D-like perovskites can efficiently template the growth of layered perovskites and determine their orientation.
- Jifei Wang
- , Shiqiang Luo
- & Yongbo Yuan
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Article
| Open AccessCu2O photocathodes with band-tail states assisted hole transport for standalone solar water splitting
While solar-to-fuel conversion offers a promising technology to produce energy, device components can limit light absorption and reduce performances. Here, authors show copper thiocyanate to assist hole transport in photoelectrodes and enable a 4.55% solar-to-hydrogen efficiency in tandem devices.
- Linfeng Pan
- , Yuhang Liu
- & Anders Hagfeldt
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Article
| Open AccessEfficient lateral-structure perovskite single crystal solar cells with high operational stability
Lateral-structured perovskite solar cells are easily integratable for large modules but suffer from less impressive efficiency compared to the sandwich-structured counterparts. Here Song et al. demonstrate stable and 11% efficiency devices under 1 Sun illumination by anode contact treatment.
- Yilong Song
- , Weihui Bi
- & Qingfeng Dong
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Article
| Open AccessHighly efficient all-inorganic perovskite solar cells with suppressed non-radiative recombination by a Lewis base
There has been a hot competition to optimize the device performance for all-inorganic perovskite solar cells. Here Wang et al. employ a Lewis base molecule to suppresses the non-radiative recombination in the inverted device and achieve a champion efficiency of 16.1%.
- Jing Wang
- , Jie Zhang
- & Alex K. Y. Jen
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Article
| Open AccessSub-1.4eV bandgap inorganic perovskite solar cells with long-term stability
Current research focus on the perovskites solar cells (PSCs) is mainly limited to the lead-based ones with bandgaps above 1.5 eV. Here Hu et al. report efficient and stable inorganic tin-containing PSCs, opening doors to exploring abundant perovskite materials with bandgaps lower than 1.4 eV.
- Mingyu Hu
- , Min Chen
- & Yuanyuan Zhou
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Article
| Open AccessAn efficient and stable photoelectrochemical system with 9% solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency via InGaP/GaAs double junction
Photoelectrochemical water-splitting devices with III-V semiconductors are efficient for solar-to-hydrogen conversion, but high costs and poor stability limit applications. Here, authors decouple light harvesting from electrolysis to enhance stability without compromising the efficiency.
- Purushothaman Varadhan
- , Hui-Chun Fu
- & Jr-Hau He
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Article
| Open AccessGeneral technoeconomic analysis for electrochemical coproduction coupling carbon dioxide reduction with organic oxidation
Coupling of carbon dioxide reduction and organic oxidation is promising for sustainable chemicals production; however, economics are impacted by variations in product combinations and process design. Here the authors report technoeconomic analysis for a range of technologies and coproduction processes.
- Jonggeol Na
- , Bora Seo
- & Ung Lee
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Article
| Open AccessRoom-temperature direct synthesis of semi-conductive PbS nanocrystal inks for optoelectronic applications
Providing large-scale iodide capped semi-conductive PbS nanocrystals inks preparation for high-throughput manufacturing remains a challenge. Here, the authors propose a direct one step and scalable synthesis method enabling cost reduction and promoting its commercial viability for solar cells.
- Yongjie Wang
- , Zeke Liu
- & Wanli Ma
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Article
| Open AccessUnassisted solar lignin valorisation using a compartmented photo-electro-biochemical cell
The effective valorisation of lignin is crucial for realizing a sustainable biorefinery. Here, the authors report that a compartmented photo-electro-biochemical design enables unassisted, selective, and stable solar lignin valorisation without the need for any additional bias or chemicals.
- Myohwa Ko
- , Le Thanh Mai Pham
- & Ji-Wook Jang
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Article
| Open AccessCollective excitation of plasmon-coupled Au-nanochain boosts photocatalytic hydrogen evolution of semiconductor
Plasmonic effect offers a valuable opportunity to improve the efficiency of semiconductor, photocatalysts. Here, the authors show that the collective excitation of plasmonic metal, nanoparticles is more favorable for enhancing the utilization of plasmonic energy by, semiconductors.
- Guiyang Yu
- , Jun Qian
- & Gang Liu
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Article
| Open AccessReconfiguration of interfacial energy band structure for high-performance inverted structure perovskite solar cells
Charged surface defects are expected to undermine the charge extraction in organic-inorganic perovskite solar cells. Here Zhang et al. design ionic fullerene derivatives to not only passivate the charged defects, but also optimize the interfacial energy due to aligned orientation of the fullerenes.
- Moyao Zhang
- , Qi Chen
- & Yongfang Li
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Article
| Open AccessObservation of a phonon bottleneck in copper-doped colloidal quantum dots
Weak electron-phonon scattering that can enable long-lived hot electrons in semiconductors is of interest in hot carrier solar cells. Here, the authors report copper-doped colloidal cadmium-selenide quantum dots with hot electron lifetime extended by more than 30-fold compared to undoped dots.
- Lifeng Wang
- , Zongwei Chen
- & Kaifeng Wu
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Article
| Open AccessPhotocatalytic water splitting by N-TiO2 on MgO (111) with exceptional quantum efficiencies at elevated temperatures
Chemical fuels, produced from light, afford an alternative to fossil fuel, but conversion materials suffer from low photon-to-fuel efficiencies. Here, authors incorporate gold/N-doped TiO2 on MgO surfaces and show enhanced photocatalytic water splitting performances at elevated temperatures.
- Yiyang Li
- , Yung-Kang Peng
- & Shik Chi Edman Tsang
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Article
| Open AccessDevelopment of a longevous two-species biophotovoltaics with constrained electron flow
Power densities of existing microbial biophotovoltaics (BPV) are low and unendurable. Here, the authors develop a BPV based on d-lactate mediated microbial consortium, which can generate an average power density of 135 mW·m−2 for over 40 days in a spatial-temporal separation setup with medium replenishment.
- Huawei Zhu
- , Hengkai Meng
- & Yin Li
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Article
| Open AccessA high-performance oxygen evolution catalyst in neutral-pH for sunlight-driven CO2 reduction
Solar-to-fuel conversion under mild conditions offers a renewable means to store energy. Here authors report a Brownmillerite oxide for neutral-pH oxygen evolution that, when integrated with an anodized silver cathode, enables a 13.9% energy-conversion efficiency for light-driven CO2 reduction
- Li Qin Zhou
- , Chen Ling
- & Hongfei Jia
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Article
| Open AccessDirect evidence for grain boundary passivation in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells through alkali-fluoride post-deposition treatments
Grain boundaries play critical roles in determining the properties and performance of solar cells based on polycrystalline materials. Here Nicoara et al. showcase that proper treatments passivate defects at grain boundaries by forming secondary material phases with the CIGSe absorbers and lead to higher Voc.
- Nicoleta Nicoara
- , Roby Manaligod
- & Sascha Sadewasser
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Article
| Open AccessIn situ observation of picosecond polaron self-localisation in α-Fe2O3 photoelectrochemical cells
The efficiency of Hematite (α-Fe2O3) photo-anodes is thought to be limited by ultrafast lattice distortions or polarons. Here, we use an optical-control method with photocurrent detection to track small polarons in real time and demonstrate that they impact photoelectrochemical cell activity
- Ernest Pastor
- , Ji-Sang Park
- & Artem A. Bakulin
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Article
| Open AccessTailoring the photoelectrochemistry of catalytic metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) photoanodes by a dissolution method
Designing synthetic systems to convert light into fuel is crucial in renewable energy development. Here, authors study electrodissolution in nickel thin films from metal-insulator-semiconductor junctions and find decreased homogeneity to improve junction properties and catalytic performances.
- G. Loget
- , C. Mériadec
- & S. Ababou-Girard
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Article
| Open AccessGallium arsenide solar cells grown at rates exceeding 300 µm h−1 by hydride vapor phase epitaxy
Gallium arsenide holds record efficiency for single junction solar cells, but high production costs limit applications. Here Metaferia et al. show high quality GaAs and GaInP at rates exceeding 300 and 200 micrometers per hour by dynamic hydride vapor phase epitaxy and > 25% efficient solar cells.
- Wondwosen Metaferia
- , Kevin L. Schulte
- & Aaron J. Ptak
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Article
| Open AccessNoncovalently fused-ring electron acceptors with near-infrared absorption for high-performance organic solar cells
Recently, the non-fullerene acceptors with fused rings enable high-efficiency organic solar cells but they are not ideal in terms of synthetic cost and yield. Here, Huang et al. report ‘less fused’ acceptors with non-covalent S⋅⋅⋅O interactions and solar cell efficiency of up to 13%.
- Hao Huang
- , Qingxin Guo
- & Zhishan Bo
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Article
| Open AccessFlexible Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 solar cells with over 10% efficiency and methods of enlarging the cell area
Flexibility and homogeneity are preferred properties for the kesterite solar modules to compete with silicon counterparts. Here, Yang et al. achieve these properties by designing a thin and multi-layered precursor structure and at the same time increase the open circuit voltage and device efficiency.
- Kee-Jeong Yang
- , Sammi Kim
- & Jin-Kyu Kang
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Article
| Open AccessIsolated single atom cobalt in Bi3O4Br atomic layers to trigger efficient CO2 photoreduction
While the conversion of CO2 to high-value products provides a promising means to remove and utilize atmospheric carbon, few materials can do so without wasteful, sacrificial reagents. Here, authors prepare single-atom Co on Bi3O4Br nanosheets as CO2 reduction catalysts using water and light.
- Jun Di
- , Chao Chen
- & Zheng Liu
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Article
| Open AccessSelective light absorber-assisted single nickel atom catalysts for ambient sunlight-driven CO2 methanation
While light-driven CO2 methanation provides a renewable means to upgrade waste emissions, the sunlight is insufficient to drive high temperature CO2 methanation. Here, authors prepare single-atom Ni on Y2O3 with a selective light absorber for ambient-sunlight-driven photothermal CO2 methanation.
- Yaguang Li
- , Jianchao Hao
- & Jinhua Ye
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Article
| Open AccessGraphite-protected CsPbBr3 perovskite photoanodes functionalised with water oxidation catalyst for oxygen evolution in water
While photoelectrochemical cells may offer access to solar fuels from a single integrated device, halide perovskite photoelectrodes are difficult to use due to their inherent moisture sensitivity. Here, the authors protect perovskite photoanodes with graphite sheets to boost their stability in water.
- Isabella Poli
- , Ulrich Hintermair
- & Petra J. Cameron
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Article
| Open AccessBlack phosphorene as a hole extraction layer boosting solar water splitting of oxygen evolution catalysts
Photoelectrochemical water splitting affords an integrated approach for converting light to fuel, but devices typically suffer poor activities and stabilities. Here, authors incorporate black phosphorene into bismuth vanadate photoanodes to boost hole extraction and device lifetimes.
- Kan Zhang
- , Bingjun Jin
- & Jong Hyeok Park
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Article
| Open AccessModulating the mechanism of electrocatalytic CO2 reduction by cobalt phthalocyanine through polymer coordination and encapsulation
Understanding the mechanism behind CO2 reduction catalysis is crucial in the development of high efficiency and activity catalysts. Here, authors employ kinetic isotope effects and proton inventory studies to assess catalyst mechanism and proton delivery in molecular CO2 electroreduction materials.
- Yingshuo Liu
- & Charles C. L. McCrory
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Article
| Open AccessDynamic emission Stokes shift and liquid-like dielectric solvation of band edge carriers in lead-halide perovskites
Lead halide perovskites have unique electronic properties that depend on the crystal’s anharmonicity. Dielectric solvation theories, developed for molecules dissolved in polar liquids, are shown here to reproduce the temperature behavior of carrier solvation in the electronic spectra, implying strongly anharmonic lattice dynamics.
- Yinsheng Guo
- , Omer Yaffe
- & Louis E. Brus
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Article
| Open AccessA chemically inert bismuth interlayer enhances long-term stability of inverted perovskite solar cells
Long term stability is a major barrier for the commercialization of halide perovskite solar cells. Here Wu et al. demonstrate that a chemically inert and structural impermeability bismuth electrode interlayer greatly increases the stability of unencapsulated perovskite solar cells under harsh conditions.
- Shaohang Wu
- , Rui Chen
- & Wei Chen
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Correspondence
| Open AccessThermal artefacts in two-photon solar cell experiments
- Chris C. Phillips
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Article
| Open AccessStrain engineering in perovskite solar cells and its impacts on carrier dynamics
The residual strains in the mixed halide perovskite thin films and their effects on the solar cell devices are less understood. Here Zhu et al. study the impact of the gradient in-plane strain on the carrier dynamics of the strained perovskite films and optimize the device efficiency.
- Cheng Zhu
- , Xiuxiu Niu
- & Qi Chen
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Article
| Open AccessPerovskite-polymer composite cross-linker approach for highly-stable and efficient perovskite solar cells
Defective grain boundaries of polycrystalline perovskite films are one of the major causes of the instability of the solar cell devices. Here Han et al. choose a polymer with proper molecular structure to crosslink the perovskite grains to greatly improve the device stability.
- Tae-Hee Han
- , Jin-Wook Lee
- & Yang Yang
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Article
| Open AccessRobust and synthesizable photocatalysts for CO2 reduction: a data-driven materials discovery
While the conversion of greenhouse CO2 to chemical fuels offers a promising renewable energy technology, there is a dire need for new materials. Here, authors report the largest CO2 photocathode search using a first-principles approach to identify both known and unreported candidate photocatalysts.
- Arunima K. Singh
- , Joseph H. Montoya
- & Kristin A. Persson
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Article
| Open Access9.2%-efficient core-shell structured antimony selenide nanorod array solar cells
Antimony selenide is a promising thin film solar cell absorber material in which grain orientation is crucial for high device performance. Here Li et al. grow the material in nanorod arrays along the [001] direction and obtain record high efficiency of 9.2%.
- Zhiqiang Li
- , Xiaoyang Liang
- & Yaohua Mai
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Article
| Open AccessContactless steam generation and superheating under one sun illumination
Solar steam generation is limited by fouling of solar converters, and the steam temperature is usually pinned to 100 °C. Here, both limitations are overcome in a system utilizing a solar absorber and light down-converter to achieve radiative heating, which does not require physical contact between absorber and water.
- Thomas A. Cooper
- , Seyed H. Zandavi
- & Gang Chen
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Comment
| Open AccessScaling of next generation solution processed organic and perovskite solar cells
- Paul Meredith
- & Ardalan Armin
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Article
| Open AccessUnravelling the role of vacancies in lead halide perovskite through electrical switching of photoluminescence
Methylammonium lead triiodide perovskite based solar cells have attracted lots of attention but many physical characteristics of this material remain elusive. Here Li et al. reveal the role of defects in the carrier recombination dynamics in photoluminescence experiments and present a model to describe it.
- Cheng Li
- , Antonio Guerrero
- & Juan Bisquert
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Article
| Open AccessEfficient solar-driven electrocatalytic CO2 reduction in a redox-medium-assisted system
Generating high-energy fuels from sunlight, water, and CO2 using synthetic materials requires, among many things, the careful separation of reduced and oxidized products. Here, authors employ a zinc-based redox pair to spatially and temporally separate light-driven water oxidation and CO2 reduction.
- Yuhang Wang
- , Junlang Liu
- & Gengfeng Zheng
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Article
| Open AccessUnravelling the effect of charge dynamics at the plasmonic metal/semiconductor interface for CO2 photoreduction
Light-driven CO2 reduction provides a way to limit greenhouse gas concentrations, but understanding how materials accomplish this transformation is challenging. Here, authors examine the reaction over plasmonic silver-titanium dioxide using time-resolved, in situ techniques to follow the mechanism.
- Laura Collado
- , Anna Reynal
- & Víctor A. de la Peña O’Shea