Abstract

Solar-driven photocatalysis presents a promising approach to addressing global energy shortages and environmental pollution. However, its efficiency remains limited by the kinetically complex and energetically challenging multi-electron reactions. In recent years, photothermal catalysis based on plasmonic nanomaterials has emerged as a rapidly developing and exciting research field due to its enormous advantage in solar spectrum utilization. Sunlight, including UV, visible, and infrared light, can be utilized by plasmonic catalysts not only to induce local heating but also to generate energetic hot carriers for initiating surface catalytic reactions and/or modulating reaction pathways, resulting in synergistically promoted solar-to-fuel conversion efficiencies.  

This talk will introduce the latest research advances in the field, focusing on our challenges on the scientific and technological possibilities of nano-materials for solar-driven carbon recycling. Efforts to explore suitable photoactive materials and to control their surface/interface structure to achieve a synergistic effect of efficient sunlight absorption and high catalytic activity/selectivity will be introduced. In addition, reactor design and effective thermal management are critical for advancing photothermal systems toward practical application, especially under natural sunlight conditions. The current understanding of key aspects of solar-driven carbon recycling, as well as the crucial issues that should be addressed in future research activities will also be introduced and discussed.

Biography

　　叶金花教授，天津大学/河北大学教授，国家特聘专家，欧洲科学院院士（MAE）。1983年毕业于浙江大学，1990年获得东京大学理学博士学位。曾任日本国家材料研究所（NIMS）主席研究员，光催化研究中心主任，环境再生材料研究中心主任，国际纳米材料研究据点首席研究员，北海道大学化学院教授，以及天津大学-NIMS联合研究中心主任。现任天津大学“先进催化材料研究中心”主任、河北大学“光驱动碳中和研究中心”主任、NIMS名誉研究员、以及北海道大学邀请教授。 

　　长期从事新型纳米光催化材料的开发以及在太阳能转换和环境净化方面应用的研究，先后承担了日本政府、产业界、国家“973”项目以及国家自然科学基金重点项目等十几项重大研究项目。在Nature, Nature Mater., Nature Energy, Nature Catal., Nature Commun., JACS, Adv. Mater.等国际学术杂志上发表论文700余篇，获得同行引用80,000余次，H因子149。2016年起连续多年入选为全球高被引科学家，目前担任Science Advances和ACS Nano副主编。