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New Sights in Nanomaterials for Photoelectrochemistry

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 2531

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Institute of Flexible Electronics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
Interests: photoelectrochemical water splitting; single atom catalysis; photodynamic therapy; photothermal therapy; quantum dots; aqueous zinc batteries

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Energy and environmental crises have become increasingly critical, and there is an urgent demand for green chemistry and transformation methods. As effective electron transfer methods, unique photoelectric synergistic catalysis methods have attracted widespread attention from scientists. Numerous research groups have carried out work in the field of photoelectrochemical synthesis, catalysis, transformations, and conversions. Photoelectrochemical catalysis consists of synergistic photocatalysts and electrocatalysts, using photons and electrons to initiate redox reactions instead of chemical oxidants or reducing agents, thus offering a more eco-friendly strategy for various reactions. In addition, photoelectrochemical cells, sensors, and devices are relevant to light absorption, charge separation/recombination and migration, and (electro)catalytic redox reactions, playing paramount roles in energy harvesting, conversion, detection, and characterization applications.

Prof. Dr. Yibo Yan
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • photoelectrochemical catalysis
  • photoelectrochemical cells
  • photoelectrochemical sensors
  • photoelectrochemical characterizations
  • photoelectrochemical conversion
  • photoelectrochemical transformations
  • optoelectronic devices
  • photoelectrochemical CO2 reduction

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 3460 KiB  
Article
Quantum Dots Mediated Heterojunction Coupling MoSe2 Photoanode for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting
by Lin Zhang, Jiana Sun, Mengmeng Zhao, Yuxuan Wei, Taigang Luo, Zhengping Zhao and Yibo Yan
Molecules 2024, 29(5), 1070; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29051070 - 29 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1242
Abstract
Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) possess the photosensitive absorption for photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution owing to special band structures, whereas they usually confront with photo-corrosion or undesired charge recombination during photoelectrochemical reactions. Hence, we establish the heterojunction between GQDs and MoSe2 sheets via a [...] Read more.
Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) possess the photosensitive absorption for photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution owing to special band structures, whereas they usually confront with photo-corrosion or undesired charge recombination during photoelectrochemical reactions. Hence, we establish the heterojunction between GQDs and MoSe2 sheets via a hydrothermal process for improved stability and performance. Photoanodic water splitting with hydrogen evolution boosted by the heteroatom doped N,S-GQDs/MoSe2 heterojunction has been attained due to the abundant active sites, promoted charge separation and transfer kinetics with reduced energy barriers. Diphasic 1T and 2H MoSe2 sheet-hybridized quantum dots contribute to the Schottky heterojunction, which can play a key role in expedited carrier transport to inhibit accumulative photo-corrosion and increase photocurrent. Heteroatom dopants lead to favored energy band matching, bandgap narrowing, stronger light absorption and high photocurrent density. The external quantum efficiency of the doped heterojunction has been elevated twofold over that of the non-doped pristine heterojunction. Modification of the graphene quantum dots and MoSe2 heterojunction demonstrate a viable and adaptable platform toward photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Sights in Nanomaterials for Photoelectrochemistry)
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Review

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32 pages, 11676 KiB  
Review
Hydrogels and Aerogels for Versatile Photo-/Electro-Chemical and Energy-Related Applications
by Jiana Sun, Taigang Luo, Mengmeng Zhao, Lin Zhang, Zhengping Zhao, Tao Yu and Yibo Yan
Molecules 2024, 29(16), 3883; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29163883 - 16 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1007
Abstract
The development of photo-/electro-chemical and flexible electronics has stimulated research in catalysis, informatics, biomedicine, energy conversion, and storage applications. Gels (e.g., aerogel, hydrogel) comprise a range of polymers with three-dimensional (3D) network structures, where hydrophilic polyacrylamide, polyvinyl alcohol, copolymers, and hydroxides are the [...] Read more.
The development of photo-/electro-chemical and flexible electronics has stimulated research in catalysis, informatics, biomedicine, energy conversion, and storage applications. Gels (e.g., aerogel, hydrogel) comprise a range of polymers with three-dimensional (3D) network structures, where hydrophilic polyacrylamide, polyvinyl alcohol, copolymers, and hydroxides are the most widely studied for hydrogels, whereas 3D graphene, carbon, organic, and inorganic networks are widely studied for aerogels. Encapsulation of functional species with hydrogel building blocks can modify the optoelectronic, physicochemical, and mechanical properties. In addition, aerogels are a set of nanoporous or microporous 3D networks that bridge the macro- and nano-world. Different architectures modulate properties and have been adopted as a backbone substrate, enriching active sites and surface areas for photo-/electro-chemical energy conversion and storage applications. Fabrication via sol–gel processes, module assembly, and template routes have responded to professionalized features and enhanced performance. This review presents the most studied hydrogel materials, the classification of aerogel materials, and their applications in flexible sensors, batteries, supercapacitors, catalysis, biomedical, thermal insulation, etc. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Sights in Nanomaterials for Photoelectrochemistry)
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