Photons to Fuels: Recent Progress of Photocatalytic For CO2 Reduction and H2 Production

To address the detrimental effects of climate change, innovative and timely approaches in renewable energy and environmental chemistry are essential. Photocatalytic conversion of carbon dioxide has garnered significant attention as a viable method for carbon capture and utilization, offering the potential to produce valuable fuels. In addition to CO2 reduction, the production of hydrogen through photocatalysis stands as a crucial strategy in sustainable energy, utilizing solar energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. This method not only contributes to the clean energy mix by providing green hydrogen fuel but also supports CO2 photoreduction efforts by presenting an eco-friendly alternative to hydrogen derived from fossil fuels.

There is a special focus on discovering new photocatalytic materials to enhance the efficiency of these conversion processes, particularly hydrogen generation. Efforts that draw inspiration from biological CO2 reduction mechanisms and natural photosynthesis for hydrogen production are highly regarded. This topical collection seeks to gather a collection of articles dedicated to the photocatalytic conversion of carbon dioxide and water into valuable fuels and chemicals, encompassing both original research and review articles. In-depth investigations of photocatalytic reaction mechanisms, whether for CO2 reduction or hydrogen evolution, are especially encouraged to offer insights that can advance the understanding and optimization of CO2 emission reduction and hydrogen production strategies.

While the primary emphasis may be on heterogeneous photocatalysis, studies on homogeneous photocatalytic systems and those that explore hybrid approaches bridging the gap between the two are also welcome. This topical collection aims to serve as a platform for sharing new advancements in materials and techniques for photocatalysis. We invite submissions on a wide range of topics, including but not limited to:

·Photocatalytic CO2 reduction

·Hydrogen production via photocatalytic water splitting

·Innovations in photocatalyst development for improved CO2 photoreduction and hydrogen evolution

·Mechanistic insights into CO2 photoreduction and hydrogen production

·Novel technologies and reactor designs for photocatalytic conversion of CO2 and water into fuels

Keywords: Photocatalysis, CO2 to fuel, Hydrogen production, Solar energy, Energy conversion