A solar-to-chemical conversion efficiency up to 0.26% achieved in ambient conditions

Abstract

Artificial photosynthesis in ambient conditions is much less efficient than the solar-to-biomass conversion (SBC) processes in nature. Here, we successfully mimic the NADP-mediated photosynthetic processes in green plants by introducing redox moieties as the electron acceptors in the present conjugated polymeric photocatalyst. The current artificial process substantially promotes the charge carrier separation efficiency and the oxygen reduction efficiency, achieving a photosynthesis rate for converting Earth-abundant water and oxygen in air into hydrogen peroxide as high as 909 μmol⋅g−1⋅h−1 and a solar-to-chemical conversion (SCC) efficiency up to 0.26%. The SCC efficiency is more than two times higher than the average SBC efficiency in nature (0.1%) and the highest value under ambient conditions. This study presents a strategy for efficient SCC in the future.