Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2025, Vol. 73: 99-145.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(25)64697-3

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Advanced photoelectrocatalytic coupling reactions

Jianing Pana, Min Lia(), Yingqi Wanga, Wenfu Xiea, Tianyu Zhangb, Qiang Wanga,b()   

  1. aBeijing Key Laboratory for Source Control Technology of Water Pollution, Engineering Research Center for Water Pollution Source Control & Eco-remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
    bState Key Laboratory of Efficient Production of Forest Resources, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
  • Received:2025-01-07 Accepted:2025-03-18 Online:2025-06-18 Published:2025-06-12
  • Contact: *E-mail: limin2022@bjfu.edu.cn (M. Li),qiangwang@bjfu.edu.cn (Q. Wang).
  • About author:Dr. Min Li received her B.S. in 2015 and Ph.D degree in 2020 from School of Materials Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing). She carried out postdoctoral research at Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University from 2020 to 2022. Since the end of 2022, she joined the faculty of College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University. Her current research mainly focuses on the design and modification of environmental functional materials and photo/photoelectro-catalytic CO2 conversion.
    Professor Qiang Wang received his BSc (2003) and MSc (2005) from Harbin Institute of Technology in China, and PhD (2009) from POSTECH in South Korea. In 2009-2011, he worked as a research fellow at the Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences under ASTAR, Singapore. In 2011-2012, he worked as a postdoctoral associate at the Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford. Since 2012, he holds a full professor position at the College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University. He serves as the section editor (capture, storage, and chemical conversion of carbon dioxide) of the Journal of Energy Chemistry and the editorial boards of several scientific journals. His current research interests include environmental functional nanomaterials for air pollution control and CO2 capture and utilizations (CCU).
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(52225003);National Natural Science Foundation of China(52300125);National Natural Science Foundation of China(52470113);5·5 Engineering Research & Innovation Team Project of Beijing Forestry University(BLRC2023B04)

Abstract:

Photoelectrocatalysis (PEC) is extensively applied in diverse redox reactions. However, the traditional oxygen evolution reaction (OER) occurring at the (photo)anode is hindered by high thermodynamic demands and sluggish kinetics, resulting in excessive energy consumption and limited economic value of the O2 produced, thereby impeding the practical application of PEC reactions. To overcome these limitations, advanced anodic-cathodic coupling systems, as an emerging energy conversion technology, have garnered significant research interest. These systems substitute OER with lower potential, valuable oxidation reactions, significantly enhancing energy conversion efficiency, yielding high-value chemicals, while reducing energy consumption and environmental pollution. More importantly, by designing and optimizing photoelectrodes to generate sufficient photovoltage under illumination, meeting the thermodynamic and kinetic potential requirements of the reactions, and by tuning the voltage to match the current densities of the cathode and anode, coupling reactions can be achieved under bias-free conditions. In this review, we provide an overview of the mechanisms of PEC coupling reactions and summarize photoelectrode catalysts along with their synthesis methods. We further explore advanced catalyst modification strategies and highlight the latest development in advanced PEC coupling systems, including photocathodic CO2 reduction, nitrate reduction, oxygen reduction, enzyme activation, coupled with photoanodic organic oxidation, biomass oxidation, and pollutant degradation. Additionally, advanced in situ characterization techniques for elucidating reaction mechanisms are discussed. Finally, we propose the challenges in catalyst design, reaction systems, and large-scale applications, while offering future perspectives for PEC coupling system. This work underscores the tremendous potential of PEC coupling systems in energy conversion and environmental remediation, and provides valuable insights for the future design of such coupling systems.

Key words: Photoelectrocatalysis, Coupling reaction, (Photo)cathode, (Photo)anode