Application scope of photocatalytic technology

Photocatalytic technology, as a pathway of “artificial photosynthesis” capable of directly converting low‑density solar energy into high‑energy‑density chemical energy, has expanded from early basic mechanism studies into multiple engineering fields including energy conversion, environmental remediation, and high‑value chemical synthesis. For researchers and engineers in the new energy sector, the interdisciplinary nature of photocatalytic technology determines its central role in addressing the energy crisis and achieving carbon‑neutral targets.

In the energy‑conversion dimension, photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production and carbon dioxide (CO₂) reduction are currently the most focused research directions. The former uses photoexcited electrons to reduce protons in water and obtain green hydrogen; the latter mimics the natural carbon cycle by converting CO₂ into carbon‑based fuels such as carbon monoxide, methane, ethylene, or methanol. In activity evaluation and performance assessment of these experiments, a solar simulator plays a critical role. Such equipment can provide spectral match, irradiance uniformity, and temporal stability that meet the international AAA‑level AM 1.5G reference spectrum, ensuring rigorous scientific consistency of data in quantum efficiency measurements and PEC photoelectrochemical evaluations, and providing a reliable physical benchmark for scaling laboratory material development to engineered system integration.

Environmental remediation is another traditional strength of photocatalytic technology. Utilizing the strongly oxidizing holes or reactive radicals (e.g., ·OH) generated by photoexcitation, photocatalysts can efficiently degrade volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde, and nitrogen oxides (NOx) in air, and can deeply mineralize organic dyes, antibiotics, and benzene‑series pollutants in industrial wastewater. Compared with conventional physical adsorption or high‑temperature incineration, photocatalytic oxidation can achieve complete destruction of low‑concentration pollutants at ambient temperature and pressure without producing secondary pollution, making it an important component of green environmental engineering.

In recent years, photocatalysis has shown great engineering potential in organic synthesis and fine chemicals. Compared with conventional thermochemical synthesis, photo‑driven reactions offer higher site selectivity and functional‑group compatibility, especially excelling in C–C coupling, halogenation reactions, and the construction of complex pharmaceutical intermediates. To accelerate process discovery, the PCX‑50C Discover Multi‑channel Photocatalytic Reaction System has become a standard tool in modern laboratories. The system supports 9‑position parallel experiments and uses microprocessor control to ensure high consistency among reaction sites in illumination, stirring, and temperature control, helping researchers complete catalyst screening, wavelength optimization, and substrate scope studies in a short time, significantly improving the efficiency of translating laboratory results to pilot‑scale production.

In summary, the application of photocatalytic technology has extended to cutting‑edge areas such as ammonia synthesis/nitrogen fixation, self‑cleaning surfaces, photocidal disinfection, and novel photovoltaic‑electrochemical coupled systems. With the integration of high‑efficiency LED light sources and continuous‑flow microchannel reactor technologies, photocatalysis is gradually overcoming mass‑transfer and scale‑up limitations and moving toward industrial demonstration at scale.