A "win-win" photocatalysis: coupling hydrogen production with the synthesis of high value-added organic chemicals

Photocatalytic hydrogen (H2) production and selective organic synthesis provide an environmentally friendly strategy to generate solar fuel and high-value organic products, respectively. However, these reactions usually either suffer from low reaction kinetics or need the aid of sacrificial reagents as electron donors or acceptors, thus lacking in economic benefit. Is there any synergetic effect between these two types of reactions? Recently, combining H2 evolution with selective organic synthesis in one photo-catalytic system has been reported. In these dual-functional photocatalytic reactions, both photoexcited electrons and holes can be utilized to produce target products, making the overall process more efficient. In this minireview, we begin with a concise discussion of the fundamental principles of simultaneous photocatalytic H2 production and organic synthesis using semiconductor-based photocatalysts. Emphasis is placed on emerging materials or novel strategies selected in this dual-functional photo-redox reaction system, including the characteristics of photocatalysts and/or potential reaction mechanisms. Finally, remaining challenges and personal perspectives on future development in this field are put forward. It is expected that this review will provide inspirational guidance on the rational design of photocatalysts with dual-functional reaction capability, invigorating the development of economical and efficient H2 generation and/or value-added organic synthesis.& COPY; 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).