Photocatalysis

Light-Activated Copper(II) Complexes for Efficient anti-Markovnikov Alkene Hydration

Advanced chemical frameworks offer a photocatalytic solution for uranium extraction from water

Researchers develop heterocyclic-linked covalent organic frameworks (COFs) that utilize light to trigger specific redox reactions, reducing soluble uranium into insoluble forms. The materials have shown impressive photocatalytic uranium extraction efficiency and potential for environmental cleanup and nuclear fuel security.

Creating green materials with light: a breakthrough that could transform clean energy

Researchers at INRS have developed a photochemical synthesis strategy for metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), enabling precise control under ambient conditions. The approach significantly reduces energy consumption, leading to enhanced photocatalytic activity and improved structural precision.

Gram-scale photocatalytic benzyl alcohol oxidation via photon-heteroatom jointly promoted redox cycling over nickel-based Pickering emulsion

A novel nickel-based Pickering emulsion catalyst enables gram-scale synthesis of high-purity benzaldehyde with co-produced hydrogen, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional fine chemical synthesis. The synergistic effect of photon-heteroatom jointly promoted redox cycling accelerates the dehydrogenation reaction.

Recent advances in the precise nanoscale construction ofg-C₃N₄ catalysts

Researchers at Tohoku University have made significant progress in precise nanoscale construction of g-C₃N₄ catalysts, which enables efficient photocatalytic H₂O₂ evolution. The study highlights the importance of nanoarchitectonics in scaling up industrial production.

Beyond 1000 nm low-energy sunlight-driven photocatalysis

Scientists have developed a new system enabling unprecedented large-volume photocatalysis driven by low-energy sunlight with wavelengths beyond 1000 nm. The hybrid QDs/Th-DPP NIR-II photosensitizers achieved a record upconversion efficiency of 3.9%, overcoming spectral limitations of visible-light technologies.

Agricultural waste-derived biochar dramatically boosts ozone treatment to remove persistent water pollutant

Researchers developed a nitrogen-doped biochar that enhances ozone-based water treatment efficiency by over 100 times, removing persistent pollutants like DEET. The catalyst also shows strong performance against pharmaceuticals and herbicides, offering a promising solution for tackling emerging contaminants.

Stabilized hybrid photocatalyst boosts artificial photosynthesis efficiency

Researchers develop hybrid photocatalyst system to overcome light-induced damage in molecular catalysts, significantly improving CO2-to-formate quantum yield from 6% to over 27%. The new design ensures selective excitation of semiconductors and prevents unwanted photochemical reactions.

Breaking the durability–degradability trade-off in polymers

Researchers at The University of Osaka developed a molecular design strategy to reconcile the trade-off between polymer material's durability and degradability. They created a tough material whose enzymatic degradation can be switched on or off using light, allowing for precise programming of its lifetime.

Researchers develop biochar-based photocatalyst that rapidly removes antibiotic pollutants from water

A new biochar-enhanced photocatalyst has been developed to efficiently degrade antibiotic contaminants in water, with the material demonstrating remarkable ability to break down sulfadiazine. The photocatalyst harnesses sunlight to drive chemical reactions capable of degrading antibiotic molecules, and its performance is substantially ...

How materials informatics aids photocatalyst design for hydrogen production

A new photocatalyst design using machine learning interatomic potential calculations has successfully identified suitable dopants for a novel tin oxide material. The resulting aluminum-doped material produces 16 times more hydrogen under visible light than the undoped material, paving the way for next-generation clean energy applications.

Nanotechnology offers new hope for cleaning heavy metal pollution in soil and water

Recent scientific progress in nanotechnology has led to the development of engineered nanomaterials that can remove, transform, or immobilize heavy metals in contaminated environments. These nanomaterials possess unique properties that make them highly reactive and efficient at interacting with contaminants.

New 2D membrane reactor revolutionizes photocatalytic synthesis

Researchers developed a new 2D membrane reactor that significantly improves the synthesis of imines, critical precursors for pharmaceuticals and advanced materials. The system achieves high conversion rates and selectivity in under 7 seconds at room temperature.

Researchers develop a high-efficiency photocatalyst using iron instead of rare metals

Nagoya University researchers have developed an iron-based alternative to expensive chiral ligands in metal-based photocatalysts, achieving a precise radical cation cyclization and the first total asymmetric synthesis of (+)-heitziamide A using blue LED light and abundant iron.

Waterloo researchers turning plastic waste into vinegar

Researchers at the University of Waterloo have discovered a way to convert microplastic waste into acetic acid, the main ingredient of vinegar, using sunlight. The breakthrough offers a promising new approach to reducing plastic pollution through photocatalysis, creating a valuable chemical product.

Visible light-driven deracemization of α-aryl ketones synergistically catalyzed by thiophenols and chiral phosphoric acid

A green and efficient photo-redox/hydrogen atom transfer synergistic catalytic strategy successfully synthesizes chiral α-aryl cyclic ketones. Thiophenols activate carbonyl compounds through Brønsted acid and HAT catalyst roles.

New method for housane synthesis

Chemists at the University of Münster developed a new method to produce high-grade housane molecules, which are small tri- or quadripartite ring molecules crucial for drug development and materials science. The reaction is triggered by photocatalysis, enabling efficient access to valuable products.

DGIST identifies “magic blueprint” for converting carbon dioxide into resources through atom-level catalyst design

A research team has identified a principle for designing atomic-level interactions in catalysts to selectively produce desired products from carbon dioxide conversion. The discovery could lead to more efficient solar-driven carbon utilization technologies, addressing the climate crisis.

Achieving cross-coupling reactions of fatty amide reduction radicals via iridium-photorelay catalysis and other strategies

This method successfully solves the challenge of generating C,N,N-trialkyl α-amino radicals in aliphatic amides, enabling gram-scale reactions with low catalyst loadings. The reaction exhibits good functional group tolerance, making it suitable for late-stage modification of complex molecules.

Research advances in porous materials, as highlighted in the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Researchers from FAPESP-supported center create novel molecular architecture to efficiently degrade emerging water contaminants. The material demonstrates removal efficiencies greater than 95% and potential for sustainable solar-powered applications.

Hydrogen bonds unlock a new path to more efficient solar water oxidation

Researchers developed a supramolecular photocatalyst with hydrogen bonds that enhance exciton dissociation and charge migration, leading to improved oxygen evolution rates. The system boosts internal electric fields, driving faster charge migration and increased holes on the catalyst surface.

Scientists design solar-responsive biochar that accelerates environmental cleanup

Researchers developed a new strategy to engineer biochar with enhanced sunlight-driven chemical activity, boosting its ability to drive light-powered reduction reactions. The findings suggest that biochar can dynamically transform under sunlight, participating in complex photochemical reactions that affect pollutant behavior and metal ...

Scientists develop algae-derived biochar nanoreactor to tackle persistent PFAS pollution

Researchers have developed a new algae-based biochar material that breaks down PFOA with remarkable ability. The new material combines advanced nanotechnology with sustainable biomass resources, providing a promising strategy for removing difficult contaminants from water.

Tiny dots, big impact: Using light to scrub industrial dyes from our water

Researchers at ITMO University have developed a new solution for cleaning up contaminated water by harnessing the power of light. Carbon dot-polymer composites are revolutionizing the cleanup of toxic wastewater, making it more efficient and scalable.

Researchers enable microorganisms to build molecules with light

A team from the University of Illinois developed a photobiocatalytic platform that enables Escherichia coli to produce complex molecules through light-driven enzymatic reactions. This breakthrough broadens the capabilities of biomanufacturing, offering a promising avenue for sustainable production of chemicals and materials.

Photocatalysis enables direct coupling of native sugars and N-heteroarenes

A new 'capping-and-coupling' strategy transforms native sugars into compounds known as C-heteroaryl glycosides in one step through photocatalytic carbon-carbon bond formation. This breakthrough enables simple and efficient coupling of diverse nitrogen-containing aromatics, offering a powerful avenue for late-stage glycosylations.

Light powered catalyst breakthrough rapidly strips hidden carcinogenic precursors from drinking water sources

Researchers have developed a recyclable photocatalyst that harnesses visible light to efficiently remove fulvic acid and other organic pollutants from water. The BiOCl MXene composite achieved removal rates of up to 98.43% for fulvic acid in just 30 minutes, with high durability and versatility.

Engineered biochar enzyme system clears toxic phenolic acids and restores pepper seed germination in continuous cropping soils

A team of scientists developed a simple biochar-based technology to strip self-toxic chemicals from pepper growing soils and restore healthy seed germination. The engineered material, HRP CBC, consistently outperformed other treatments in removing toxic phenolic acids and achieving at least 50% removal within two hours.

Crystalline organic nanofiber photosensitizers: exceptional light harvesting and singlet oxygen generation for rapid photooxidation

A novel approach to designing crystalline organic nanofiber photosensitizers has been developed. These materials exhibit exceptional light harvesting and singlet oxygen generation capabilities, enabling rapid photooxidation of organic substrates.

Solar hydrogen can now be produced efficiently without the scarce metal platinum

A team of researchers at Chalmers University of Technology has developed a new way to produce hydrogen gas without the use of platinum, a scarce and expensive metal. The process uses sunlight and tiny particles of electrically conductive plastic to efficiently produce hydrogen.

Harnessing sound and sunlight: A new catalyst wipes out persistent pharmaceutical pollutants

Researchers have developed a new piezo-photocatalytic material that dramatically improves the removal of carbamazepine from water. The oxygen-doped MoS₂ catalyst achieves rapid and complete degradation within minutes, outperforming conventional photocatalytic approaches.

Engineered material uses light to destroy PFAS, other contaminants

Researchers at Rice University developed a material that uses light to break down PFAS and other contaminants. The covalent organic framework (COF) material, grown directly onto a hexagonal boron nitride film, requires only light to activate its photocatalytic reactions.

Pd–CNO2 enhances efficient H2O2 photosynthesis on keto-form anthraquinone-based covalent organic framework

The study reports a novel strategy for highly efficient photocatalytic synthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) from neutral water. A Pd-CNO2 coordination structure is integrated into a keto-form anthraquinone-based covalent organic framework, developing a highly efficient single-atom catalyst.

Robust new photocatalyst paves the way for cleaner hydrogen peroxide production and greener chemical manufacturing

A new photocatalyst has been developed that significantly boosts the efficiency and stability of hydrogen peroxide generation under visible light. The catalyst, known as a TTT COF, achieves nearly 30 millimoles per gram per hour in aqueous solution, outperforming its imine-based precursor.

A novel strategy for highly selective ethanol synthesis from methane driven by light-driven transformation without reliability for reactive oxygen species

Researchers developed a single-atom Cu-N2O1 site that achieves high photocatalytic methane conversion to ethanol rates and selectivity. The novel strategy breaks the activity-selectivity seesaw effect in existing processes.

Red light and recyclable catalysts drive sustainable photocatalysis

Researchers at CiQUS developed a sustainable method using red light and recyclable COF catalysts to promote chemical reactions efficiently. The study highlights the potential of COFs as red-light-active heterogeneous photocatalysts, offering a significant step toward greener chemical methodologies.

Scientists turn algae and crop waste into valuable fuels and nanomaterials

Researchers developed a clean process to transform microalgae and agricultural residues into biofuels, bio-adsorbents, and fluorescent carbon nanodots. The study offers a sustainable way to reuse biomass resources, contributing to renewable energy production and environmental protection.

Atom-swapping blueprint revolutionises drug synthesis

Researchers from NUS pioneered a photocatalytic atom-swapping transformation that converts oxetanes into four-membered saturated cyclic molecules. This breakthrough simplifies the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and complex drug analogues, reducing steps from 8 to 4.

Photocatalytic olefin double bond cleavage acylation

Researchers developed a novel photocatalytic carbon-carbon double bond cleavage strategy, achieving efficient synthesis of α-aryl ketones from anhydrides and aromatic olefins under mild conditions. The method exhibits metal-free nature, broad substrate applicability, and good functional group tolerance.

Directed co-catalyst deposition on organic semiconductor heterojunctions: A new strategy for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production

A new method for constructing heterojunctions using a small organic molecule containing multi-terminal pyridine and graphitic carbon nitride improves charge separation efficiency. This approach promotes the extensive deposition and uniform dispersion of metal atoms, leading to high photocatalytic hydrogen production rates.

Positive charges stabilize instantly in key solar fuel catalyst: New simulations track ultrafast polaron formation in NaTaO3.

Researchers used quantum-chemical molecular dynamics to visualize the ultrafast formation of polarons in NaTaO3, a key photocatalyst for solar water splitting. Positive hole polarons stabilize rapidly and significantly within 50 femtoseconds, while electron polarons show insignificant stabilization energy change.

Interfacial photothermal evaporation coupled with photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production

Researchers develop a novel immobilized photothermal-photocatalytic integrated system for efficient hydrogen production. The system combines photothermal substrate with high-performance photocatalysts to enable synergistic liquid water evaporation and steam-phase water splitting under light illumination.

Study reveals how nitrogen atmosphere enhances performance of iron-biochar catalysts in wastewater treatment

Researchers found iron-biochar composites milled in a nitrogen atmosphere exhibit superior catalytic performance for degrading organic pollutants. The composite achieved a phenol removal rate of 90.3% when used to activate persulfate, outperforming those milled in air or vacuum.

Researchers achieve light-induced heterolytic hydrogen dissociation at ambient temperature

A research team developed a photochemical strategy to realize heterolytic H2 dissociation using gold-loaded titanium dioxide as a model photocatalyst. The reaction was driven by electron-hole pairs formed upon UV irradiation, producing reactive H2 species that selectively reduced polar functional groups.

Novel unsymmetrical molecule produces perfect photocatalyst potential

Researchers at The University of Osaka have invented a novel, unsymmetrical hetero[8]circulene molecule with unique properties that make it a potent organic photocatalyst. The molecule can speed up chemical reactions triggered by light, paving the way for sustainable and inexpensive material creation.

Ultrathin porous NiO nanosheets with oxygen vacancies boost photocatalytic CO2 reduction

Researchers developed ultrathin porous NiO nanosheets with abundant oxygen vacancies, which exhibit exceptional performance in photocatalytic CO2 reduction. The catalysts achieve high CO evolution rates and selectivity under pure CO2 atmospheres.

Metal-free catalysts break through in green H2O2 synthesis! Novel organic semiconductors enable high-efficiency interfacial reactions

Researchers have developed metal-free organic semiconductor photocatalytic H2O2 production, providing a robust material platform for green and efficient synthesis. Novel surface reactions can fundamentally increase the utility of photogenerated excitons by exploiting unexpected chemical processes.

Researchers realize in situ formation of functional materials in living systems

Scientists discovered a novel method to synthesize gold-polymer nanocomposites within living E. coli bacteria, creating natural microreactors for complex nanostructure formation. The approach enables spatially controlled and eco-friendly synthesis of functional materials.

HKUST chemists discover a “super” photoreductant to leap forward in photocatalysis

Researchers developed a novel photocatalytic system utilizing visible-light-absorbing quantum dots to enhance photoreduction efficiencies. The system enables hot-electron generation under mild conditions and achieves remarkable efficiency improvements.

Novel DNA-based assemblies for the development of remote-controlled microsystems

Scientists from Institute of Science Tokyo create photo-switchable binding of DNA nanostructures that generate two distinct directional motions. The research paves the way for innovative fluid-based diagnostic chips and molecular computers.

Fundamentals and challenges for indirect and direct photocatalytic conversion of plastic wastes into valuable fuels

Researchers explore strategies for converting plastics into valuable chemicals through photocatalysis, highlighting indirect conversions of PET, PLA, and PE, as well as direct conversions of PE, PLA, and PVC. The review also discusses challenges and future outlooks for this clean energy source.

Designing the future of clean energy: Janus heterobilayers lead the way

Janus heterobilayers have shown promising potential for photocatalytic water splitting, converting sunlight into clean hydrogen fuel with an impressive 16.62% efficiency. This innovation addresses traditional challenges, paving the way for a more sustainable future.

Towards targeted catalyst optimization: Identifying rate-limiting steps in photocatalysis

Researchers introduce Onset Intensity for Temperature Dependence (OITD) to identify rate-limiting steps in photocatalytic reactions. The study reveals distinct rate-limiting behaviors for different materials, highlighting the importance of surface accessibility in optimizing photocatalytic material design.

Sustainable method produces high-purity material for use in green hydrogen production

Researchers developed a simple, economical and environmentally friendly purification method for mullite-type bismuth ferrite, improving its efficiency in producing green hydrogen. The process uses light and glycerol to eliminate unwanted compounds, resulting in high-purity material suitable for photoelectrochemical reactions.

Porphyrin–based covalent organic frameworks with undulated layers for efficient photocatalytic CO2 reduction

Researchers synthesized three porphyrin-based COF materials with tunable structural distortion, revealing correlations between linker distortion and material properties. The NN-Por-COF photocatalyst exhibits exceptional CO2 reduction performance under simulated industrial flue gas conditions.

Harnessing photocatalysis: Hydrogen generation and organic synthesis explored through a new database

A new database has been created to summarize progress in selective dehydrogenation of organic compounds through photocatalysis, enabling the accurate ranking of photocatalytic systems. The database contains 236 entries and provides insights into future directions for the field, including identifying promising photocatalysts and reactions.

Engineering the conjugation of donor and acceptor units in covalent organic frameworks for efficient photocatalytic H2O2 synthesis

Researchers engineered conjugation of donor and acceptor units in covalent organic frameworks to enhance photocatalytic H2O2 production. USTB-46 achieved a high yield of 8274 mmol g−1 h−1, attributed to optimized light absorption, thermodynamic catalytic activity, and compatible D-A units.

Researchers track photogenerated charge transfer in electrolyte

A recent study from Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics measures surface charges in liquid environments, revealing an additional driving force that pulls photogenerated electrons to the surface. The researchers also found that local surface potential varies with pH and identified an optimal pH range for efficient charge transfer.

Rare earth element-enhanced TiO2 achieves high-efficiency photocatalytic overall water splitting

Researchers have developed a novel semiconductor material that significantly improves the efficiency of photocatalytic water splitting by eliminating charge recombination and facilitating efficient charge separation. The Sc-doped TiO2 semiconductor achieves a record-breaking quantum yield of 30.3% and a solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of ...

3D nanotech blankets offer new path to clean drinking water

Researchers have developed nanomats that can absorb light energy to break down harmful pollutants in air and water. These lightweight blankets can be reused multiple times and are environmentally friendly, offering a promising solution for clean drinking water production.