In June 2026, Small published the work of Prof. Yang Zhengwen's group at Kunming University of Science and Technology on full-spectrum-driven H2 evolution and biomass valorization (first author: Wuxi Zhang; DOI: 10.1002/smll.74198).
Solar water splitting is limited by near-infrared light (about 50% of the solar spectrum) going unused, slow carrier migration with severe recombination, and too few surface active sites. The team integrated upconversion luminescence, photothermal effect and an interfacial electric field in one catalyst.
CeO2:Yb,Er upconverts low-energy NIR photons into visible light; Rh single-atom modification and heterojunction construction address the weak NIR response and sluggish carrier transport of ZnIn2S4. The resulting catalyst delivers nearly 2x higher H2 evolution and converts biomass into value-added products at ambient temperature and pressure.
Photocatalytic gas evolution was measured with the Perfectlight microGAS1001 Micro Gas Reaction Evaluation System, whose high airtightness and reproducible sampling resolve the low-rate signals typical of full-spectrum screening.
Chinese report: 开辟光-热-电三场协同新路径：单原子催化实现全光谱驱动高效产氢.
