Solar energy provides an alternative, sustainable, and clean source of energy to meet the global energy demands without extra carbon emissions. However, the utilization efficiency of sunlight via most traditional photocatalytic processes remains relatively low. Photothermal catalysis, combining the advantages of photocatalysis and thermocatalysis, has emerged as a new fast-growing research area. In this review, we first discuss three different mechanisms of photothermal effects and then describe the functioning principles of photothermal catalysis. We categorize the photothermal catalysts into three types based on their specific coupling modes of thermochemical and photochemical pathways. We also illustrate the catalyst design strategies and characterization methods for photothermal catalysis. As specific examples of applications, we summarize the recent research progress on the photothermal catalytic reactions for CO2 conversion, CH4 activation, NH3 synthesis, and water splitting. Last, we present the challenges and perspectives in this field, as a guide for future development in photothermal catalysis. 

Principles and applications of photothermal catalysis

Here we report an integrated reduced graphene oxide/polypyrrole hybrid aerogel with highly efficient photodegradation performance and ultrahigh solar-powered water evaporation for simultaneous freshwater production and decontamination from complex wastewater. The nanohybrids were successfully fabricated by the combined hydrothermal reduction and freeze-drying process. The π-π interactions between two components not only prevent the stacking of reduced graphene oxide nanosheets to endow aerogels with abundant water transport channels and ideal mechanical stability, but also facilitate the interactions with organic molecules to realize high removal efficiency toward volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The wide-spectrum light harvesting, photothermal effect and solar-driven photocatalysis in the hybrid aerogel are beneficial for the synergistically enhanced thermal-assisted photodegradation toward VOC-contaminated water with a water evaporation rate of 2.08 kg m−2 h−1 and a phenol removal efficiency of 94.8%. Our findings may help the development of novel functional nanostructures for applications in environmental remediation and solar steam generation.

Integrated reduced graphene oxide/polypyrrole hybrid aerogels for simultaneous photocatalytic decontamination and water evaporation

Solar energy is a green, sustainable, and de facto inexhaustible energy source for mankind. The conversion of solar energy into other forms of energy has attracted extensive research interest due to climate change and the energy crisis. Among all the solar energy conversion technologies, photothermal conversion of solar energy exhibits unique advantages when applied for water purification, desalination, high‐temperature heterogeneous catalysis, anti‐bacterial treatments, and deicing. In this review, the various photothermal conversion mechanisms based on different forms of heat release are summarized and some of the latest examples are presented. In addition, the necessary prerequisites for solar‐driven photothermal materials toward their practical applications are also discussed. Further, the latest advances in photothermal conversion of solar energy are discussed, focusing on different types of photothermal applications. Finally, a summary is given and the challenges and opportunities in the photothermal conversion of solar energy are presented. This review aims to give a comprehensive understanding of emerging solar energy conversion technologies based on the photothermal effect, especially by using nanomaterials and nanostructures.

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A Review on Photothermal Conversion of Solar Energy with Nanomaterials and Nanostructures: From Fundamentals to Applications

Thermo-photo catalysis, which is the catalysis with the participation of both thermal and photo energies, not only reduces the large energy consumption of thermal catalysis but also addresses the low efficiency of photocatalysis. As a whole greater than the sum of its parts, thermo-photo catalysis has been proven as an effective and promising technology to drive chemical reactions. In this review, we first clarify the definition (beyond photo-thermal catalysis and plasmonic catalysis), classification, and principles of thermo-photo catalysis and then reveal its superiority over individual thermal catalysis and photocatalysis. After elucidating the design principles and strategies toward highly efficient thermo-photo catalytic systems, an ample discussion on the synergetic effects of thermal and photo energies is provided from two perspectives, namely, the promotion of photocatalysis by thermal energy and the promotion of thermal catalysis by photo energy. Subsequently, state-of-the-art techniques applied to explore thermo-photo catalytic mechanisms are reviewed, followed by a summary on the broad applications of thermo-photo catalysis and its energy management toward industrialization. In the end, current challenges and potential research directions related to thermo-photo catalysis are outlined.

Thermo-photo catalysis: a whole greater than the sum of its parts.

Shape-controlled fabrication of MnO/C hybrid nanoparticle from waste polyester for solar evaporation and thermoelectricity generation

A visible-light responsive self-assembled perylenetetracarboxylic diimide (PDI)/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composite film was obtained and showed excellent photocatalytic performance and efficient interfacial steam generation. The degree of π-π interactions between Perylenetetracarboxylic diimide supramolecular nanofibers (nano-PDI) and rGO regulated the energy band structure and redox potential of the composite film to produce h+ and O2− active species. The photothermal conversion of the composite film under visible light irradiation was realized, which was mainly because the above-bandgap electrons and holes of the upper nano-PDI relaxed to the edge of the band and converted the excess energy into heat. The unique energy band structure of rGO also promotes the effective photothermal conversion of the composite film. The composite film degraded 94.31 % (10 mg/L) of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CIP) under 0.5 sun visible light irradiation within 120 min. The corresponding interfacial steam generation efficiency via photothermal conversion of the composite film was 10.92 %. Furthermore, the composite film retained its excellent photothermal performance, when used to remove CIP from real water samples, including Yellow River water, Weihe River water, and tap water.

Visible-light responsive PDI/rGO composite film for the photothermal catalytic degradation of antibiotic wastewater and interfacial water evaporation

H2O2 concentration influenced the photoaging mechanism and kinetics of polystyrene microplastic under UV irradiation: Direct and indirect photolysis

Solar water recycling of carbonaceous aerogel in open and colsed systems for seawater desalination and wastewater purification

Facilitating Digester Recovery from Acid Inhibition at High Organic Load Rates by Limited Calcium Peroxide Addition

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Visible-light responsive PDI/rGO composite film for the photothermal catalytic degradation of antibiotic wastewater and interfacial water evaporation

H2O2 concentration influenced the photoaging mechanism and kinetics of polystyrene microplastic under UV irradiation: Direct and indirect photolysis

Solar water recycling of carbonaceous aerogel in open and colsed systems for seawater desalination and wastewater purification

Facilitating Digester Recovery from Acid Inhibition at High Organic Load Rates by Limited Calcium Peroxide Addition