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Based on high efficiency and wide spectral splitter film and Fresnel lens, we have theoretically investigated a full solar-spectrum power-generation system. Designed nano-multilayers are fabricated on Fresnel lens. Then short wavelengths (400 nm ~ 1100 nm) of solar-spectrum can be transmitted 95% to the solar cell, and long wavelengths (1100 nm ~ 2500 nm) of solar-spectrum can be reflected 90% and focused to the thermoelectric cell. This system can combine the efficiency of solar cells and thermoelectric cells to generate electricity across the entire solar spectrum. In theory, the limit for total conversion efficiency is $\eta =56.64$ %.

• A 2D/2D stacked metallic O doped MoS 2 /CoS nanosheets was prepared in this work. • Metallic O-MC cocatalyst can extend light-absorption to NIR range. • ZMC exhibits photothermal effect and NIR-light induced H 2 production activity. Full solar-spectrum-driven hydrogen (H 2) production from water-splitting is highly desirable but remains a great challenge. A heterojunction composite photocatalyst with a full-spectrum absorption range of up to 1020 nm was constructed by introducing 2D/2D metallic oxygen-doped MoS 2 /CoS (O-MC) nanosheets onto 1D Zn 0.1 Cd 0.9 S nanorods (ZCS NR) for photocatalytic and photothermal H 2 production. Consequently, the optimal ZMC 1.5 heterojunction exhibited a significantly improved H 2 production activity of 95.5 mmol g−1 h−1 under 420 nm monowavelength irradiation, which is 13.84 times higher than that of pristine ZCS NR. Even under 1020 nm monowavelength irradiation, the catalyst also shows an expressive H 2 generation rate of 0.202 mmol g−1 h−1. Moreover, it gives an apparent quantum yield (AQY) of 39.5% at 420 nm. Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy (Fs-TAS) results reveal the multiple intraband and interband excited-charge transitions in the partially occupied band of O-MC and interfacial electron transfer between O-MC and ZCS NR result in the enhancement H 2 evolution rate. This study highlights the extended light absorption and special partially occupied energy bands of metallic cocatalysts, which hold great potential for the design and synthesis of efficient full solar-spectrum (UV–vis-NIR light) responsive photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Co 3 O 4 as a heat source in composite system can generate heat by absorbing Vis-NIR light. • High-frequency photons are converted into heat to accelerate interfacial charge transfer. • S-scheme retains carriers with high redox potentials converted from low-frequency photons. The development of photocatalysts that maximize the use of solar spectra for photocatalysis for obtaining more efficient photocatalysts is urgently needed. Herein, the core–shell Co 3 O 4 @ZnIn 2 S 4 S-scheme heterojunction was synthesized for achieving high-efficient photothermal-assisted photocatalytic hydrogen (H 2) performance under full solar-spectrum irradiation. Notably, photocatalytic H 2 production tests indicate that the as-prepared optimal Co 3 O 4 @ZnIn 2 S 4 sample (CO@ZIS-20) exhibits impressive H 2 production rates of about 18.9 and 9.8 mmol h−1 g−1 under AM 1.5G and real sunlight irradiation, respectively. The effect of the reaction solution temperature induced by the photothermal effect on the photocatalytic activity in solid–liquid reactions was also investigated. Furthermore, the results of the characterization analysis revealed that high-frequency photons dominate photocatalytic reactions while low-frequency photons are converted into heat to improve photocatalytic reactions. This study provides effective design ideas of developing high-activity photothermal-assisted photocatalysts for realizing solar energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]