In recent years, photothermal catalysis has rapidly heated up in areas such as CO₂ conversion, methane reforming, and gas-phase pollutant control: by converting light energy into heat via broad‑spectrum light absorption and creating a high‑temperature reaction microenvironment near the catalyst, it is regarded as one of the important pathways connecting “solar energy‑thermocatalysis”. At present, many experiments still use the “electric furnace + light source” combination: i.e., placing the catalyst in a conventional electrically heated furnace while illuminating externally to provide photons. Although this approach makes temperature control convenient, photonic and thermal effects overlap and are difficult to distinguish, making it hard to clearly separate the reaction contribution induced by illumination. This lack of scientific deconvolution hinders deep understanding of reaction mechanisms. For example, it is difficult to quantitatively determine whether illumination promotes the reaction merely by raising the temperature (thermal effect) or by directly participating in photochemical processes. In addition, electric furnace heating also prevents accurate assessment of the “solar‑to‑chemical energy conversion efficiency” because the thermal energy required for the reaction does not all come from light.
In a study published in Nature Communications[1], to avoid energy conversion losses caused by electrical heating and catalyst sintering from uneven heating at reaction sites, the authors used a Cu‑based high‑entropy two‑dimensional oxide as a model system and conducted photothermal CO₂ conversion experiments without external heating. By direct photothermal conversion they used solar energy to drive intrinsically high‑temperature reactions such as the RWGS, realistically evaluating the operating temperature range that catalysts can reach under pure illumination. The researchers introduced a TiC‑based photothermal architecture with strong broad‑spectrum absorption and configured the catalyst inside an illuminated tubular fixed‑bed reactor; the reaction zone was heated in situ by direct illumination while the temperature of the catalyst bed was monitored. Results show that under 1 sun and 2 suns conditions the bed temperature can reach approximately 350 ℃ and 459 ℃, respectively, with CO production rates up to 248.5 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ (2 suns), and exhibiting a 36.2% solar‑to‑chemical energy conversion efficiency.
In summary, in the field of photothermal catalysis there is an urgent need for experimental schemes that realize pure photothermal heating (reactions driven solely by heat generated from illumination). Porflee Technology has developed the PLR PTCS-31 Solar Photothermal Catalysis Simulation Experimental Apparatus, which—through a horizontal receiver reactor, controllable light field, and multi‑point temperature design—uses a high‑power LED array simulating sunlight as the sole energy input to construct an indoor high‑temperature, controllable, and characterizable pure photothermal environment. This provides a directly feasible platform to reproduce and systematically carry out such high‑temperature photothermal reactions.
No.1 Three‑segment tunable LED light source
The light source is composed of LED modules of different spectral bands, allowing independent adjustment of UV/visible, near‑infrared, and other bands to achieve zoned control of “reactive light” and “heating light”. On the illuminated surface of the receiver tube, illumination uniformity exceeds 90%, with an initial maximum irradiance ≥300 mW/cm². By precisely adjusting the power of each segment, users can simulate the solar spectrum or selectively enhance a particular band to investigate the effect of spectral composition on catalytic reactions. This flexible spectral control capability helps separately evaluate photochemical and thermal effects, addressing the traditional limitation that the spectrum cannot be independently controlled.
No.2 500 ℃ pure photothermal temperature field
Using a high‑power LED array that simulates sunlight as the sole heat source, a stable high‑temperature irradiated environment can be generated indoors. The core component is a specially customized high‑absorptivity/low‑emissivity vacuum receiver tube with a U‑shaped quartz reaction tube inserted. In the central region of the receiver tube (about 10 cm length), pure light heating temperatures exceeding 500 ℃ can be achieved, meeting the needs of high‑temperature gas–solid photothermal reactions. This design effectively fills the gap of lacking high‑temperature pure photothermal environments in laboratories.
No.3 Multi‑point temperature monitoring structure
The apparatus provides multiple thermocouple interfaces at different positions along the reaction tube to monitor the temperature distribution within the reaction region in real time. Researchers can obtain true temperature data at the catalyst bed inlet, middle, and outlet—not just the outer wall temperature. This design remedies the previous inability to measure local true temperatures and provides a reliable basis for kinetics and mechanism analysis. Capturing local temperatures also helps validate catalyst hotspot effects; combined with infrared imaging, it enables comprehensive monitoring of dynamic changes in the reaction temperature field.
No.4 Optimized device structure and operation platform
The complete system adopts an integrated cabinet design, occupying a small footprint and making it easy to set up an experimental platform indoors. The photothermal reaction chamber and control cabinet are separated; the upper reaction chamber can be easily opened/closed for convenient replacement of catalyst reaction tubes and maintenance of receiver elements. A water‑cooled circulation system effectively controls LED temperature to ensure long‑term operational stability. The interface‑based parameter control supports segmented and time‑based settings for light intensity and illumination programs, displays multi‑point temperatures inside the reaction tube in real time, and can automatically record experimental process data for one‑click export—transforming photothermal catalysis experiments from “complex setup” into “repeatable, quantifiable, and streamlined operations”.
In summary, by constructing an indoor adjustable‑spectrum, up to 500 ℃ pure photothermal field and achieving precise multi‑point temperature characterization, the PLR PTCS-31 Solar Photothermal Catalysis Simulation Experimental Apparatus provides more controllable and quantifiable experimental conditions for mechanistic studies and performance evaluation of photothermal catalysis systems. This platform helps advance photothermal processes from qualitative observation to quantitative analysis, laying a reliable experimental foundation for fundamental research and technological development of solar‑driven reactions.
References
[1] Li, Y., Bai, X., Yuan, D. et al. Cu‑based high‑entropy two‑dimensional oxide as stable and active photothermal catalyst. Nat Commun 14, 3171 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38889-5
