Solar‐Driven Artificial Carbon Cycle
Authors: Gao Chao , Xiong Yujie 
Published: September 2021

Comprehensive Summary

Constituting the artificial carbon cycle, for example, through recycling CO2 and converting CH4 to value‐added fuels and chemicals with solar energy, offers a sustainable future for humankind to tackle the global environmental issues and energy crisis. However, significant bottlenecks remain in such photocatalytic conversion, mainly related to the reaction activity and product selectivity. Herein, we share our efforts and systematic research progress on addressing the double bottlenecks for achieving solar‐driven artificial carbon cycle, with specifically focusing on the photocatalytic CO2 and CH4 conversion. We further elucidate the common fundamentals behind various designed photocatalytic materials systems. Toward future development, we highlight the opportunities and challenges in the research field.

What is the most favorite and original chemistry developed in your research group?

Selective catalytic conversion of C1 molecules by coupling solar energy.

How do you get into this specific field? Could you please share some experiences with our readers?

Originating from my undergraduate training, I was very interested in the controllable cleavage and formation of chemical bonds in physical world. However, the interest was just limited to the level of curiosity at that time, while this research topic seemed so sophisticated to me. Started from my graduate study, I explored the physical world with a specific focus on inorganic materials, ranging from materials synthesis to photoelectrical properties. After my postdoctoral training, I became capable of investigating the coupling of small molecules with solar energy by leveraging inorganic materials. As such, when I started my independent career, I decided to pursue my research interests in selective catalytic conversion of molecules by coupling solar energy. C1 molecules such as carbon dioxide and methane are the critical molecules to carbon cycle, which hold the key to carbon neutrality from the present viewpoint. Naturally, I focus my research on the selective conversion of C1 molecules,

toward which catalytic materials are rationally designed to couple solar energy into their controllable bond breakage and formation.

How do you supervise your students?

When I supervise my students, I play the dual roles as mentor and coach. I mentor them to learn the key skills for research, build critical thinking, and enhance their scientific writing and communication capabilities. In the meantime, I also coach them how to design research projects, acquire a big picture for their research, and perform multidisciplinary research in collaboration with others.

What is the most important personality for scientific research?

Curiosity, which is the driving force to gather our enthusiasm, spirit and creativity toward scientific research with persistence.

What are your hobbies?

Swimming.

If you have anything else to tell our readers, please feel free to do so.

As a scientist, please follow your heart to identify the research interests behind curiosity as well as keep your spirit to explore the research interests.