Biomass, the largest renewable carbon resource in the world, offers great potential for sustainable chemical supply.
Photocatalysis is recognized as an emerging approach for biomass conversion. Under irradiation, excited photocatalyst can activate biomass substrates into active radical species under mild conditions.
Recently, a research team led by Prof. WANG Feng from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) systemically discussed recent advanced photocatalytic systems for biomass conversion.
This work was published in Nature Reviews Chemistry on Feb. 10.
In this study, the researchers summarized advanced photocatalytic systems for value-added chemical production from various raw biomass and derivatives, and discussed the efficient strategies for generating specific radical intermediates from biomass substrate activation and steering their subsequent conversion towards desired products.
"We believe that taking full advantage of the unique reactivity of radical intermediates would provide great opportunities to develop more efficient photocatalytic systems for biomass valorization," said Prof. WANG
"This work mayprovide a guide for further development of such a promising process," said Prof. WANG. (Text by HUANG Zhipeng)