Photoelectric and photochemical conversion are core areas of energy and materials science, involving processes that convert light energy into electrical or chemical energy. These principles not only drive green technologies such as solar cells and photocatalytic hydrogen production, but are also widely applied in environmental remediation and chemical synthesis. Simply put, photoelectric conversion is based on semiconductor materials absorbing photons to generate electron–hole pairs and form photocurrent; photochemical conversion, on the other hand, involves light-excited molecules undergoing chemical reactions, such as water splitting or carbon dioxide reduction. For example, in photocatalysis, ultraviolet or visible light irradiates the catalyst surface, excites electronic transitions, and drives redox reactions to produce hydrogen or degrade pollutants.
Key factors include light absorption efficiency, charge separation, and reaction kinetics. The band gap of semiconductor materials determines the spectral range they absorb, while electrode design and reactor architecture affect mass transfer and energy losses. Dual-chamber reactors use proton exchange membranes to separate the anode and cathode compartments, prevent back reactions, and improve product purity; single-chamber reactors simplify operation and are suitable for rapid screening experiments. In addition, photochemical synthesis involves reactions such as cycloaddition and halogenation, using light energy in place of traditional thermocatalysis to achieve milder, more efficient organic transformations, such as the production of vitamin D3 or pharmaceutical intermediates.
Beijing Pofeilai Technology’s knowledge-base products provide strong support for these fields. The IPCE 1000 photoelectrochemical testing system can accurately measure a material’s monochromatic incident photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE); combined with a lock-in amplifier and chopper system, it ensures high sensitivity and noise immunity, and is suitable for evaluating the performance of solar materials across the full spectrum. High gas-tight dual-chamber and single-chamber three-electrode reactors (such as the P61-45 and L60-45 series) use high borosilicate glass and O-ring seals, support convenient electrode insertion/removal and optical window cleaning, and facilitate studies of the conversion among light, electrical, and chemical energy, improving experimental reliability and reproducibility.
For photochemical synthesis, the PLR PMCD-G20 plate microchannel photoreactor enables milliliter-scale flow reactions. Combined with a high-energy light source and microchannel design, it enhances mass transfer efficiency and reaction rates, supports gas-liquid/liquid-liquid reactions and electrochemical extensions, and is suitable for pharmaceutical and chemical R&D. Meanwhile, the PLR DHEU-I hydrogen energy utilization demonstration system vividly showcases the conversion process from light energy to chemical energy (such as hydrogen production) and then to kinetic energy, enhancing science education experiences and sparking learning interest. Advantages of these products include high-precision measurements, modular design, safe and controllable operation, and suitability for multi-scenario needs from the laboratory to industrialization, helping researchers accelerate innovation and advance sustainable energy development.
With Pofeilai’s solutions, users can explore photoelectric and photochemical mechanisms more efficiently, contributing to efforts to address global warming and energy challenges.
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