Abstract
Solar light is widely recognized as one of the most valuable renewable energy sources for the future. However, the development of solar-energy technologies is severely hindered by poor energy-conversion efficiencies due to low optical-absorption coefficients and low quantum-conversion yield of current-generation materials. Huge efforts have been devoted to investigating new strategies to improve the utilization of solar energy. Different chemical and physical strategies have been used to extend the spectral range or increase the conversion efficiency of materials, leading to very promising results. However, these methods have now begun to reach their limits. What is therefore the next big concept that could efficiently be used to enhance light harvesting? Despite its discovery many years ago, with the potential for becoming a powerful tool for enhanced light harvesting, the slow-photon effect, a manifestation of light-propagation control due to photonic structures, has largely been overlooked. This review presents theoretical as well as experimental progress on this effect, revealing that the photoreactivity of materials can be dramatically enhanced by exploiting slow photons. It is predicted that successful implementation of this strategy may open a very promising avenue for a broad spectrum of light-energy-conversion technologies.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 1605349 |
| Number of pages | 21 |
| Journal | Advanced materials |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue number | 17 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 3 May 2017 |
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Keywords
- photocatalysis
- photonic crystals
- photovoltaics
- slow photons
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Slow Photons for Photocatalysis and Photovoltaics. / Liu, Jing; Zhao, Heng; Wu, Min; Van Der Schueren, Benoit; Li, Yu; Deparis, Olivier; Ye, Jinhua; Ozin, Geoffrey A.; Hasan, Tawfique; Su, Bao Lian.
In: Advanced materials, Vol. 29, No. 17, 1605349, 03.05.2017.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Slow Photons for Photocatalysis and Photovoltaics
AU - Liu, Jing
AU - Zhao, Heng
AU - Wu, Min
AU - Van Der Schueren, Benoit
AU - Li, Yu
AU - Deparis, Olivier
AU - Ye, Jinhua
AU - Ozin, Geoffrey A.
AU - Hasan, Tawfique
AU - Su, Bao Lian
PY - 2017/5/3
Y1 - 2017/5/3
N2 - Solar light is widely recognized as one of the most valuable renewable energy sources for the future. However, the development of solar-energy technologies is severely hindered by poor energy-conversion efficiencies due to low optical-absorption coefficients and low quantum-conversion yield of current-generation materials. Huge efforts have been devoted to investigating new strategies to improve the utilization of solar energy. Different chemical and physical strategies have been used to extend the spectral range or increase the conversion efficiency of materials, leading to very promising results. However, these methods have now begun to reach their limits. What is therefore the next big concept that could efficiently be used to enhance light harvesting? Despite its discovery many years ago, with the potential for becoming a powerful tool for enhanced light harvesting, the slow-photon effect, a manifestation of light-propagation control due to photonic structures, has largely been overlooked. This review presents theoretical as well as experimental progress on this effect, revealing that the photoreactivity of materials can be dramatically enhanced by exploiting slow photons. It is predicted that successful implementation of this strategy may open a very promising avenue for a broad spectrum of light-energy-conversion technologies.
AB - Solar light is widely recognized as one of the most valuable renewable energy sources for the future. However, the development of solar-energy technologies is severely hindered by poor energy-conversion efficiencies due to low optical-absorption coefficients and low quantum-conversion yield of current-generation materials. Huge efforts have been devoted to investigating new strategies to improve the utilization of solar energy. Different chemical and physical strategies have been used to extend the spectral range or increase the conversion efficiency of materials, leading to very promising results. However, these methods have now begun to reach their limits. What is therefore the next big concept that could efficiently be used to enhance light harvesting? Despite its discovery many years ago, with the potential for becoming a powerful tool for enhanced light harvesting, the slow-photon effect, a manifestation of light-propagation control due to photonic structures, has largely been overlooked. This review presents theoretical as well as experimental progress on this effect, revealing that the photoreactivity of materials can be dramatically enhanced by exploiting slow photons. It is predicted that successful implementation of this strategy may open a very promising avenue for a broad spectrum of light-energy-conversion technologies.
KW - photocatalysis
KW - photonic crystals
KW - photovoltaics
KW - slow photons
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85011829457&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.mendeley.com/research/slow-photons-photocatalysis-photovoltaics
U2 - 10.1002/adma.201605349
DO - 10.1002/adma.201605349
M3 - Review article
VL - 29
JO - Advanced materials
JF - Advanced materials
SN - 0935-9648
IS - 17
M1 - 1605349
ER -