Broadband all-fiber optical phase modulator based on photo-thermal effect in a gas-filled hollow-core fiber

We report broadband all-fiber optical phase modulation based on the photo-thermal effect in a gas-filled hollow-core fiber.The phase modulation dynamics are studied by multi-physics simulation.A phase modulator is fabricated using a 5.6-cm-long anti-resonant hollow-core fiber with pure acetylene filling.It has a half-wave optical power of 289 mW at 100 kHz and an average insertion loss 0.6 dB over a broad wavelength range from 1450 to 1650 nm.The rise and fall time constants are 3.5 and 3.7μs,respectively,2–3 orders of magnitude better than the previously reported microfiber-based photo-thermal phase modulators.The gas-filled hollow-core waveguide configuration is promising for optical phase modulation from ultraviolet to mid-infrared which is challenging to achieve with solid optical fibers.

Construction of Mo/Mo_(2)C@C modified ZnIn_(2)S_(4)Schottky junctions for efficient photo-thermal assisted hydrogen evolution

Photocatalytic water splitting on noble metal-free photocatalysts for H_(2) generation is a promising but challenging approach to realize solar-to-chemical energy conversion.In this study,Mo/Mo_(2)C nanoparticles anchored carbon layer(Mo/Mo_(2)C@C)was obtained by a one-step in-situ phase transition approach and developed for the first time as a photothermal cocatalyst to enhance the activity of ZnIn_(2)S_(4)photocatalyst.Mo/Mo_(2)C@C nanosheet exhibits strong absorption in the full spectrum region and excellent photo-thermal conversion ability,which generates heat to improve the reaction temperature and accelerate the reaction kinetics.Moreover,metallic Mo/Mo_(2)C@C couples with ZnIn_(2)S_(4)to form ZnIn_(2)S_(4)-Mo/Mo_(2)C@C Schottky junction(denoted as ZMM),which prevents the electrons back transfer and restrains the charge recombination.In addition,conductive carbon with strong interfacial interaction serves as a fast charge transport bridge.Consequently,the optimized ZMM-0.2 junction exhibits an H2 evolution rate of 1031.07μmol g^(-1)h^-(1),which is 41 and 4.3 times higher than bare ZnIn_(2)S_(4)and ZnIn_(2)S_(4)-Mo2C,respectively.By designing novel photothermal cocatalysts,our work will provide a new guidance for designing efficient photocatalysts.

A review on photo-thermal catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide

The conversion of carbon dioxide into value-added products is of great industrial and environmental interest. However, as carbon dioxide is relatively stable, the input energy required for this conversion is a significant limiting factor in the system's performance. By utilising energy from the sun, through a range of key routes, this limitation can be overcome. In this review, we present a comprehensive and critical overview of the potential routes to harvest the sun's energy, primarily through solar-thermal technologies and plasmonic resonance effects. Focusing on the localised heating approach, this review shortlists and compares viable catalysts for the photo-thermal catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide.Further, the pathways and potential products of different carbon dioxide conversion routes are outlined with the reverse water gas shift,methanation, and methanol synthesis being of key interest. Finally, the challenges in implementing such systems and the outlook to the future are detailed.

Analysis of the independent-and interactive-photo-thermal effects on soybean flowering

Soybean（Glycine max（L.） Merr.） is a typical short-day and warm season plant, and the interval between emergence and flowering has long been known to be regulated by environmental factors, primarily photoperiod and temperature. While the effects of photoperiod and temperature on soybean flowering have been extensively studied, a dissection of the component photo-thermal effects has not been documented for Chinese germplasm. Our objective of the current study was to evaluate the independent- and interactive-photo-thermal responses of 71 cultivars from 6 ecotypes spanning the soybean production regions in China. These cultivars were subjected in pot experiments to different temperature regimes by planting in spring（low temperature（LT）） and summer（high temperature（HT））, and integrating with short day（SD, 12 h）, natural day（ND, variable day-length）, and long day（LD, 16 h） treatments over two years. The duration of the vegetative phase from emergence to first bloom（R1） was recorded, and the photo-thermal response was calculated. The outcome of this characterization led to the following conclusions：（1） There were significant differences in photo-thermal response among the different ecotypes. High-latitude ecotypes were less sensitive to the independent- and interactive-photo-thermal effects than low-latitude ecotypes; and（2） there was an interaction between photoperiod and temperature, with the effect of photoperiod on thermal sensitivity being greater under the LD than the SD condition, and with the effect of temperature on photoperiodic sensitivity being greater under the LT than the HT condition. The strengths and limitations of this study are discussed in terms of implications for current knowledge and future research directions. The study provides better understanding of photo-thermal effects on flowering in soybean genotypes from different ecotypes throughout China and of the implications for their adaptation more broadly.

Principles and practices of the photo-thermal adaptability improvement in soybean

As a short-day(SD)and thermophilic plant,soybean(Glycine max(L.)Merr.)is sensitive to photo-thermal conditions.This characteristic severely limits the cultivation range of a given soybean cultivar and affects the performances of agronomic traits such as yield,plant architectures,and seed quality.Therefore,understanding the mechanism of photo-thermal sensitivity will provide a theoretical basis for soybean improvement.In this review,we introduce the advances in physiological,genetic,and molecular researches in photoperiodism of soybean,and progress in the improvement of the photo-thermal adaptability.We also summarize the photo-thermal conditions and characteristics of widely-planted soybean cultivars of major production regions in China.Furthermore,we proposed a novel concept of‘ecotyping’and the strategies for widely-adapted soybean cultivar breeding.This review provides an important guide for improving the adaptability of soybean.

Preparation of Photo-thermal Cellulose Nanocrystal-based Hydrogel

Cellulose nanocrystal(CNC)prepared by hydrolysis of cotton linters with sulfuric acid was used to react with chloroauric acid to manufacture a gold nanoparticle/CNC composite.The composite was then graft-copolymerized with N-isopropylacrylamide to obtain a photo-thermal ultrafine gold nanoparticles/CNC-based hydrogel.The hydrogel was studied by performing scanning electron microscopy,and it was found that the prepared hydrogel had a network structure.The temperature of the hydrogel increased from 25℃to 39℃and its volume decreased by 30%when it was exposed to visible light(400~750 nm)for 1 h.The experiment results indicated that the prepared photo-thermal CNC-based hydrogel has thermal responsiveness and photo-thermal properties.

Oxygen-vacancy-anchoring Ni_(x)O_(y) loading towards efficient hydrogen evolution via photo-thermal coupling reaction

Oxygen vacancy(Vo)is a significant component in defect engineering.The present work reports the anchoring effects of initial Vo for further loading modifications and the reducing capacity of photoinduced Vo for pure water splitting.Herein,we propose Ni-loaded Cu-doped TiO_(2)(NCT)materials by successive doping and loading.The continuously added Ni ions should accumulate around the Vos and gradually grow into complete nickel oxide crystals,achieving a higher average valence state of the Ni species.NiO crystals can be detected on a 0.5%NCT sample,while the structure of Ni_(2)O_(3) has been confirmed with a higher nickel mass ratio.Moreover,the introduction of nickel oxide effectively improves the photochemical and electrochemical performance by the interface charge separation,finally reaching an H2 yield of 30.6 pmol/g-cat on 0.5%NCT for Vo-based photo-thermal coupling reaction,which consists of Vo generation in photo and Vo consumption in thermal environment.In situ infrared spectroscopy further indicated that the presence of high valence state nickel oxide hindered the H2 formation but effectively promoted the conventional oxidizing reaction,with an H2 yield of 20.6 mmol/g-cat in a methanol-water reaction on the 2.0%NCT material.In summary,Vo controls the morphological structure of Ni loading and produces diverse effects for reactions with dissimilar mechanisms,which provides a novel way to design modifications for promoting various chemical reactions.

Solar energy full-spectrum perfect absorption and efficient photo-thermal generation

Designing and manufacturing cost-effective absorbers that can cover the full-spectrum of solar irradiation is still critically important for solar harvesting.Utilizing control of the lightwave reflection and transmission,metamaterials realize high absorption over a relatively wide bandwidth.Here,a truncated circular cone metasurface(TCCM)composed of alternating multiple layers of titanium(Ti)and silicon dioxide(SiO_(2))is presented.Enabled by the synergetic of surface plasmon resonances and Fabry-Pérot resonances,the TCCM simultaneously achieves high absorptivity(exceed 90%),and absorption broadband covers almost the entire solar irradiation spectrum.In addition,the novel absorber exhibits great photo-thermal property.By exploiting the ultrahigh melting point of Ti and SiO_(2),high-efficiency solar irradiation absorption and heat release have been achieved at 700℃when the solar concentration ratio is 500(i.e.,incident light intensity at 5×10^(5) W/m^(2)).It is worth noting that the photo-thermal efficiency is almost unchanged when the incident angle increases from 0°to 45°.The outstanding capacity for solar harvesting and light-to-heat reported in this paper suggests that TCCM has great potential in photothermal therapies,solar desalination,and radiative cooling,etc.

Photo-thermal synergistic excitation:Feasible strategy to detect ethanol for wide bandgap ZIF-8at low work temperature

Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8(ZIF-8)material was prepared by chemical precipitation method.The microstructure and physical properties of the as-prepared samples were characterized by XRD,BET,FESEM and UV spectrophotometer.The self-made four-channel measurement device was used to test the gas sensitivity of ZIF-8 material toward ethanol gas under photo-thermal synergistic excitation.The results showed that the sample was typical ZIF-8(E_(g)=4.96 eV)with a regular dodecahedron shape and the specific surface is up to 1793 m^(2)/g.The as-prepared ZIF-8 has a gas response value of 55.04 to 100 ppm ethanol at 75℃ and it shows good gas sensing selectivity and repeated stability.The excellent gas sensitivity can be attributed to the increase of free electron concentration in the ZIF-8 conduction band by photo-thermal synergistic excitation,and the large specific surface area of ZIF-8 material provides more active sites for gas-solid surface reaction.The reaction mechanism of ZIF-8 material under multi-field excitation was also discussed.

Highly efficient photo-thermal synergistic catalysis of CO_(2)methanation over La_(1-x)Ce_(x)NiO_(3)perovskite-catalyst

Solar-driven photo-thermal catalytic CO_(2)methanation reaction is a promising technology to alleviate the problems posed by greenhouse gases emissions.However,designing advanced photo-thermal catalysts remains a research challenge for CO_(2)methanation reaction.In this work,a series of ABO3(A=lanthanide,B=transition metal)perovskite catalysts with Ce-substituted LaNiO3(La_(1-x)Ce_(x)NiO_(3),x=0,0.2,0.5,0.8,1)were synthesized for CO_(2)methanation.The La_(0.2)Ce_(0.8)NiO_(3) exhibited the highest CH_(4) formation rate of 258.9 mmol·g^(-1)·hcat-1,CO_(2)conversion of 55.4%and 97.2%CH_(4) selectivity at 300℃with the light intensity of 2.9 W·cm^(-2).Then the catalysts were thoroughly analyzed by physicochemical structure and optical properties characterizations.The partial substitution of the A-site provided more active sites for the adsorption and activation of CO_(2)/H_(2).The sources of the active sites were considered to be the oxygen vacancies(O_(v))created by lattice distortions due to different species of ions(La^(3+),Ce^(4+),Ce^(3+))and exsolved Ni0 by H_(2)reduction.The catalysts have excellent light absorption absorbance and low electron-hole(e^(-)/h^(+))recombination rate,which greatly contribute to the excellent performance in photo-thermal synergistic catalysis(PTC)CO_(2)methanation.The results of in situ irradiated electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometer(ISI-EPR)and ISI-X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS)indicated that the aggregation of unpaired electrons near the defects and Ni metal(from La and Ce ions to Ov and Ni0)accelerated adsorption and activation of CO_(2)/H_(2).At last,the catalyst properties and structure were correlated with the proposed reaction mechanism from the in situ diffuse reflection infrared Fourier transform spectrum(DRIFTS)measurements.The in situ precipitation of the B-site enhanced the dispersion of Ni,while its enriched photoelectrons upon illumination further promote hydrogen dissociation.More H^(*)spillover accelerated the rate-determining step(RDS)of HCOO*hydrogenation.This work provides the theoretical basis for the development of catalysts and industrial application.

Solar fuel from photo-thermal catalytic reactions with spectrum-selectivity： a review

Solar fuel is one of the ideal energy sources in the future. The synergy of photo and thermal effects leads to a new approach to higher solar fuel production under relatively mild conditions. This paper reviews different approaches for solar fuel production from spectrum- selective photo-thermal synergetic catalysis. The review begins with the meaning of synergetic effects, and the mechanisms of spectrum-selectivity and photo-thermal catalysis. Then, from a technical perspective, a number of experimental or theoretical works are sorted by the chemical reactions and the sacrificial reagents applied. In addition, these works are summarized and tabulated based on the operating conditions, spectrum-selectivity, materi- als, and productivity. A discussion is finally presented concerning future development of photo-thermal catalytic reactions with spectrum-selectivity.

Conductive photo-thermal responsive bifunctional hydrogel system with self-actuating and self-monitoring abilities

Despite enormous efforts in actuators,most researches are only limited to various actuation behaviors and demonstrations of soft materials.It has not yet been reported to capture and monitor its movement status in an invisible environment.Therefore,it is of great significance to develop a self-sensing and self-actuating dual-function hydrogel actuator system to realize real-time monitoring.Here,we report a bifunctional hydrogel system with self-actuating and self-monitoring abilities,which combines the functions of photothermal actuation and electrical resistance sensing into a single material.The bilayer tough conductive hydrogel synthesized by unconventional complementary concentration recombination and cryogenic freezing technique presents a dense conductive network and high-porosity structure,achieving high toughness at 190.3 kPa of tensile strength,high stretchability(164.3%strain),and the toughness dramatically(1,471.4 kJ·m^(−3)).The working mechanism of the monitoring and self-sensing system is accomplished through the integrated monitoring device of surface temperature–bending angle–electron current,to solve the problem of not apperceiving actuator motion state when encountering obstacles in an invisible environment.We demonstrated for the first time a photothermal actuator’s motion of a football player and goalkeeper to finish the penalty and a soft actuator hand,which can achieve the action of sticking to grab and release under photo-thermal actuation.When connected to the control closed circuit,the actuator realized closed-loop monitoring and sensing feedback.The development of bifunctional hydrogel systems may bring new opportunities and ideas in the fields of material science,circuit technology,sensors,and mechanical engineering.

Comparison of the Photo-thermal Energy Conversion Behavior of Polar Bear Hair and Wool of Sheep

The unique photo-thermal energy conversion property of polar bear hairs has long been regarded as an essential element to enable this creature to survive in extremely cold conditions. However, the relevant research was ineffectual to provide sufficient evidence of its solar energy harvesting property. In this paper, the properties of polar bear hairs were analyzed and compared systematically with those of domestic sheep wool through the measurements in the aspects of photo-thermal conversion effi- ciency, scanning electron microscope, fluorescence spectral and transmission of UV-visible spectra. Moreover, this study was much more focused on exploring ultraviolet utilization property of polar bear hair than previous research. The research results demonstrated that the photo-thermal property of polar bear hair was superior to those of wool fiber, especially in harvesting ultraviolet part. The potential benefits of this research lie in the development of bionic solar energy collective devices, especially in artificial solar energy collection fibers and textile products.

Enhancement of Photo-Thermal Conversion Performance of the Nanofluids Through Spectral Complementarity between Silver and Cesium Tungstate Oxide Nanoparticles

Nanofluids with full-spectrum absorption properties are highly desirable for direct solar thermal energy conversion applications.In this work,Ag and CsW03 nanofluids,which exhibit absorption both in the visible and near-infrared(NIR)region,are integrated to obtain two>component hybrid nanofluids.The hybrid nanofluids show broad band absorption with a solar weighted absorption fraction of 99.6%,compared to 18%and 54%for the base liquid(ethylene glycol)and CsW03 nanofluids,respectively.The highest photo-thermal conversion performance for the hybrid nanofluids is obtained with Ag/CsW03 weight ratio of 3/7.The solar thermal conversion efficiency of the optimum hybrid nanofluids is 67%,10%and 15%higher than single Ag and CsW03 nanofluids.The two-component hybrid nanofluid provides an alternative for making the best use of solar energy.

Preparation of Three-dimensional Graphene-based Sponge as Photo-thermal Conversion Material to Desalinate Seawater

Water shortage has become one of the major threats to human society over the past centuries.The new interfacial solar evaporation is undoubtedly an attracting technology to solve this problem.Herein,graphene aerogel(GA)and graphene oxide/melamine sponge composite material(GO-MS)were prepared through a two-step reduction and one-step freezing method as photo-thermal materials to evaporate pure water and seawater.The proper concentrations of the graphene oxide(GO)dispersion for their preparation were investigated,which is 7 mg/mL for GA,and 5 mg/mL for GO-MS.The evaporation rates of GA are 1.40 kg/(m^(2)·h)for pure water and 1.21 kg/(m^(2)·h)for seawater,while for GO-MS it is 1.63 kg/(m^(2)·h)for pure water and 1.45 kg/(m^(2)·h)for seawater,respectively.The composite material not only reduces the usage of GO,but also shows better photo-thermal conversion properties.Furthermore,the heat loss of evaporation system was calculated and the method of further enhancing photo-thermal conversion efficiency was deduced,which will provide a strong basis for guiding the design and development of graphene based three-dimensional materials and further exploration in this field.

Three-dimensional porous photo-thermal fiber felt with salt-resistant property for high efficient solar distillation

The urgent need for fresh water resource is a public issue facing the world.Solar distillation for seawater desalination is a promising freshwater production method.Interfacial solar evaporation systems based on 2 D photo-thermal membranes have been widely studied,but salt pollution is one of the main challenges for solar distillation.In order to solve this problem,a hydrophilic three-dimensional(3 D)porous photo-thermal fiber felt(PFF)was obtained by one-step method,through a simple polydopamine(PDA)coating method with hydrophobic graphite felt as a substrate.The PFF had a good evaporation rate of 1.48 kg m^(-2)h^(-1)and its corresponding light-vapor conversion efficiency reached 87.4%.In addition,the PFF exhibited an excellent salt-resistant ability when applied to photo-thermal evaporation of highsalinity seawater with 10 wt%NaCl,owing to its intrinsic 3 D macroporous structure for the migration circulation of salt ions.The development of the PFF offers a new route for the exploration of salt-re sistant photo-thermal materials and is promising for the practical application of solar distillation.

PEG4000/聚苯胺形状稳定复合相变材料的制备及其储热性能

以聚苯胺气凝胶(PANI)为支撑骨架,聚乙二醇4000(PEG4000)为相变材料,银纳米线(AgNWs)为导热增强填料,采用低温氧化聚合法和真空浸渍法制备得到具有良好形状和循环稳定性的定形相变复合材料PEG4000@Ag/PANI.聚苯胺气凝胶的高孔隙率及PEG4000与基体材料间的氢键作用和毛细作用,使得相变复合材料的最高负载率能够达到94.17%(熔融焓为165.17 J·g^(–1),凝固焓为152.77 J·g^(–1));加入AgNWs与PANI气凝胶共同搭建导热通路,提高了相变复合材料的导热性能(热导率最高为0.45 W·m^(–1)·K^(–1),比纯PEG4000提高80%);借助Ag NWs和聚苯胺优异的光吸收能力,相变复合材料的光–热转换效率达到90.61%.高储能密度、高光热转换能力和高热导率定形相变复合材料的成功制备为新型相变复合材料的合成提供了新思路,为太阳能光–热转换和储能应用提供了新材料,实现对太阳能的高效利用.

Solar fuel production through concentrating light irradiation

The climate crisis necessitates the development of non-fossil energy sources.Harnessing solar energy for fuel production shows promise and offers the potential to utilize existing energy infrastructure.However,solar fuel production is in its early stages of development,constrained by low conversion efficiency and challenges in scaling up production.Concentrated solar energy(CSE)technology has matured alongside the rapid growth of solar thermal power plants.This review provides an overview of current CSE methods and solar fuel production,analyzes their integration compatibility,and delves into the theoretical mechanisms by which CSE impacts solar energy conversion efficiency and product selectivity in the context of photo-electrochemistry,thermochemistry,and photo-thermal co-catalysis for solar fuel production.The review also summarizes approaches to studying the photoelectric and photothermal effects of CSE.Lastly,it explores emerging novel CSE technology methods in the field of solar fuel production.

基于BIM技术的塔式光热电站建设过程应用

光热电站凭借其可储热、可调峰、可连续发电的优点,逐渐成为可再生能源领域的研究热点,但其建设过程涉及专业庞杂,建设内容多,项目实施过程存在时间紧,施工过程要求高,项目安全管理风险大等问题。基于此,基于BIM技术,以青海共和塔式光热发电项目为例,从BIM模型建设、碰撞检查、三维会审、工作量统计、4D进度管理、物料可视化管理、安全管控以及全过程数字化移交等方面对BIM技术在塔式光热电站建设过程进行了应用探索。结果表明:通过BIM多平台建模设计,打破了不同模型数据互通壁垒,实现了模型轻量化总装,提高了项目质量,可为光热电站项目高质量施工提供借鉴。

光热双响应形状记忆聚氨酯/炭黑纳米复合材料的制备及性能研究

选用聚己内酯为预聚物,炭黑(CB)纳米颗粒作为光响应功能性填料,通过溶液聚合制备了一种光热双响应形状记忆聚氨酯(SMPU)/CB纳米复合材料。利用IR、SEM、DSC和DMA对其结构、形貌、热学性能和形状记忆性能进行表征。研究结果表明,SMPU/CB纳米复合材料展示出优异的形状记忆性能,其形状固定率和形状回复率均在97%以上。此外,由于CB的光热效应,SMPU/CB纳米复合材料在红外光的照射下具有快的响应速度及大的弯曲变形角度,在航空航天、智能驱动等领域具有潜在的应用前景。