Lee Wang Hee, Park Hyunseo, Lee Chan Woo, Kim Haeseong, Jeong Jae Hwan, Yun Jeong In, Bang Seong-Uk, Heo Junhyeok, Ahn Kyung Hyun, Cha Gi Doo, Bootharaju Megalamane S, Lee Byoung-Hoon, Ryu Jaeyune, Kim Minho, Hyeon Taeghwan, Kim Dae-Hyeong
Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
School of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Nat Nanotechnol. 2025 Jun 11. doi: 10.1038/s41565-025-01957-6.
Heterogeneous photocatalysis offers substantial potential for sustainable energy conversion, yet its industrial application is constrained by limited durability under stringent photochemical conditions. Achieving high photocatalytic activity often requires harsh reaction conditions, compromising catalyst stability and longevity. Here we propose a strategy involving polymeric stabilization of photocatalytic centres uniquely localized at the gas-liquid interface, substantially enhancing both the catalytic activity and stability. Applied to the photocatalytic conversion of plastic waste into solar hydrogen, this approach maintained its catalytic performance over 2 months under harsh conditions. Using 0.3 wt% dynamically stabilized atomic Pt/TiO photocatalysts and concentrated sunlight, we achieved a plastic reforming activity of 271 mmolH h m. Scaling to 1 m under natural sunlight yielded a hydrogen production rate of 0.906 l per day from polyethylene terephthalate waste. Economic analysis and extensive-scale simulations suggest this strategy as a promising pathway for high-performance, durable photocatalysis, advancing renewable energy conversion.
多相光催化在可持续能源转换方面具有巨大潜力，但其工业应用受到严格光化学条件下耐久性有限的制约。实现高光催化活性通常需要苛刻的反应条件，这会损害催化剂的稳定性和寿命。在此，我们提出一种策略，即通过聚合物对独特定位在气液界面的光催化中心进行稳定化处理，可大幅提高催化活性和稳定性。将该方法应用于塑料废料光催化转化为太阳能制氢，在苛刻条件下，其催化性能可保持2个月以上。使用0.3 wt%动态稳定的原子级Pt/TiO光催化剂并聚焦太阳光，我们实现了271 mmolH₂ h⁻¹ m⁻²的塑料重整活性。在自然阳光下放大至1 m规模，聚对苯二甲酸乙二酯废料的产氢速率达到每天0.906升。经济分析和大规模模拟表明，该策略是高性能、耐用光催化的一条有前景的途径，有助于推动可再生能源转换。
