Can Xue

In this work, a coupling system consisting of bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄) and cobalt-based polyoxometalates (Co-POMs) was developed to enhance the oxygen evolution reaction. Crystallization-driven self-assembly and the wet chemical synthesis method were deployed in synthesizing Co-POMs and monoclinic–tetragonal mixed–phase BiVO₄, respectively. The introduction of Co-POMs into a BiVO₄-containing mixture significantly enhanced the water oxidation reaction, with a more than twofold increment in the total amount of oxygen evolved. For instance, 461.2 µmol of oxygen was evolved from the system containing 20 mg of Co-POMs compared to 195 µmol of oxygen produced from a pristine BiVO₄ system. This extraordinary improvement in the oxygen evolution reaction indicates the existence of a positive synergic effect between BiVO₄ and Co-POMs, in which Co-POMs could act as effective cocatalysts to extract photogenerated charge carriers generated by BiVO₄ and improve the charge transfer process. However, the amount of oxygen produced was slightly reduced to 440.7 µmol with an increase in AgNO₃ loading from 30 mg to 60 mg. This unforeseen phenomenon could be elucidated by the shielding effect of silver particles, in which a higher AgNO₃ loading led to a more prominent shielding effect. The presence of silver nanoparticles on post-reaction BiVO₄ was confirmed by TEM and XPS analysis. This newly established process scheme provides an insight into the development of an efficient photocatalytic oxygen evolution system in realizing future commercial applications toward green energy production.

Construction of CNS/BOCB-OV heterostructures with N/O vacancies leads to new donor energy levels that create a new pathway for interfacial charge transfer to improve charge separation and enhance photocatalytic activities for CO ₂ reduction.

Bimetallic AuNi Janus and core–shell nanocrystals were synthesized by varying the structure and concentration of phosphine ligands, and showed excellent H ₂ evolution activity when loaded on graphitic carbon nitride for photocatalytic H ₂ generation.

Artificial nitrogen conversion reactions, such as the production of ammonia via dinitrogen or nitrate reduction and the synthesis of organonitrogen compounds via C-N coupling, play a pivotal role in the modern life. As alternatives to the traditional industrial processes that are energy- and carbon-emission-intensive, electrocatalytic nitrogen conversion reactions under mild conditions have attracted significant research interests. However, the electrosynthesis process still suffers from low product yield and Faradaic efficiency, which highlight the importance of developing efficient catalysts. In contrast to the transition-metal-based catalysts that have been widely studied, the p-block-element-based catalysts have recently shown promising performance because of their intriguing physiochemical properties and intrinsically poor hydrogen adsorption ability. In this Perspective, we summarize the latest breakthroughs in the development of p-block-element-based electrocatalysts toward nitrogen conversion applications, including ammonia electrosynthesis from N₂ reduction and nitrate reduction and urea electrosynthesis using nitrogen-containing feedstocks and carbon dioxide. The catalyst design strategies and the underlying reaction mechanisms are discussed. Finally, major challenges and opportunities in future research directions are also proposed.

Plasmonic semiconductor nanoparticles (NPs) with wide‐range tailorable localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) hold exciting prospects on optical signal amplification. In this work, by precisely controlling oxygen vacancies around W atoms, plasmonic bismuth tungstate Bi₂WO₆ (BWO) nanosheets are constructed to enhance emission of Yb³⁺/Er³⁺ co‐doped NaYF₄ upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs). In the optimal conditions, the UCNPs/BWO‐2 hybrids exhibit over three‐order (1260‐fold) enhancement selectively on the 520 nm emission owing to the strong LSPR‐induced electrical field and photothermal effect. Moreover, it is found that the highly efficient emission of UCNPs/BWO‐2 allows it to act as a thermometer to monitor the real‐time local temperature with high absolute sensitivity of 5.8 × 10⁻³ K⁻¹ in wide temperature range (up to 990 K). For proof‐of‐concept, the dual functions of plasmonic UCNPs/BWO‐2 hybrids on bioimaging and photothermal therapy for cancer cells are demonstrated that can be completely killed within 5 min under 980 nm irradiation. As far as it is known, this work reaches a new level on UCNPs emission enhancement by plasmonic semiconductor, exceeding most plasmonic metals.

We present the fabrication of core‐shell‐satellite Au@SiO₂‐Pt nanostructures and demonstrate that LSPR excitation of the core Au nanoparticle can induce plasmon coupling effect to initiate photocatalytic hydrogen generation from decomposition of formic acid. Further studies suggest that the plasmon coupling effect induces a strong local electric field between the Au core and Pt nanoparticles on the SiO₂ shell, which enables creation of hot electrons on the non‐plasmonic‐active Pt nanoparticles to participate hydrogen evolution reaction on the Pt surface. In addition, small SiO₂ shell thickness is required in order to obtain a strong plamon coupling effect and achieve efficient photocatalytic activities for hydrogen generation.

Plasmonic photocatalysis is a promising approach for solar energy transformation. Comparing with isolated metal nanoparticles, the plasmonic coupling architectures can provide further strengthened local electromagnetic field and boosted light‐harvesting capability through optimal control over the composition, spacing, and orientation of individual nanocomponents. As such, when integrated with semiconductor photocatalysts, the coupled metal nanostructures can dramatically promote exciton generation and separation through plasmonic‐coupling‐driven charge/energy transfer toward superior photocatalytic efficiencies. Herein, the principles of the plasmonic coupling effect are presented and recent progress on the construction of plasmonic coupling architectures and their integration with semiconductors for enhanced photocatalytic reactions is summarized. In addition, the remaining challenges as to the rational design and utilization of plasmon coupling structures are elaborated, and some prospects to inspire new opportunities on the future development of plasmonic coupling structures for efficient and sustainable light‐driven reactions are raised.