Light Utilization Research Articles

Development and Performance of ZnO/MoS2 Gas Sensors for NO2 Monitoring and Protection in Library Environments

The presence of harmful oxidizing gases accelerates the oxidation of cellulose fibers in paper, resulting in reduced strength and fading ink. Therefore, the development of highly sensitive NO2 gas sensors for monitoring and protecting books holds significant practical value. In this manuscript, ZnO/MoS2 composites were synthesized using sodium molybdate and thiourea as raw materials through a hydrothermal method. The morphology and microstructure were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The ZnO/MoS2 composite exhibited a flower-like structure, with ZnO nanoparticles uniformly attached to the surface of MoS2, demonstrating advantages such as high specific surface area and good uniformity. The gas sensitivity of the ZnO/MoS2 nanocomposites reached its peak at 260 °C, with a sensitivity value around 3.5, which represents an improvement compared to pure ZnO, while also enhancing sensitivity. The resistance of the ZnO/MoS2 gas sensor remained relatively stable in air, exhibiting short response times during transitions between air and NO2 environments while consistently returning to a stable state. In addition to increasing adsorption capacity and improving light utilization efficiency, the formation of hetero-junctions at the ZnO-MoS2 interface creates an internal electric field that effectively promotes the rapid separation of photo-generated charge carriers within ZnO, thereby extending carrier lifetime.

Mining of Candidate Genes Associated with Leaf Shape Traits in Grapes

As the most important organ for photosynthesis, leaves provide the main energy source for plant growth. Leaf traits affect light energy utilization and, thus, plant development and biomass. Given the high morphological variability of leaves between and within grape genotypes, phenotypic analysis is challenging. This study first evaluated leaf shape trait parameters using a specific leaf profile and area analyzer, along with genome-wide association study (GWAS) analyses, to identify additional candidate genes related to grape leaf shape traits. In the two-year analysis, 89 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were found to be significantly associated with leaf shape traits. These SNP loci were distributed on 18 chromosomes, of which chromosome 15 had the most relevant SNPs. We found that leaf shape-associated genes included mainly plant hormone-, ubiquitin ligase-, serine/threonine protein kinase-, transcription factor-, and cell wall metabolism-related genes. By analyzing the expression of these candidate genes on the chip, we found that they exhibited diverse expression levels in leaves at different developmental stages (young, mature, and senescent). This suggests that these genes could be considered candidates for grape leaf improvement.

Preparation and Growth Mechanism of Pyramid‐Shaped Cu2ZnSnS4 Monocrystal and the Simulation of Its Monograin Layer Solar Cells

AbstractThe Cu2ZnSnS4(CZTS) monocrystal as an important component of the optical absorption layer in monograin layer solar cells, has excellent crystallization characteristics and adjustable photogenerated carrier concentration. The shape of the CZTS monocrystal directly affects the utilization of incident light and the contact area during the preparation of the back electrode when they are densely packed to form a single‐layer absorption layer. Herein, a kesterite‐phase pyramid‐shaped CZTS monocrystal prepared by the molten salt method is reported, which can improve the efficiency of incident light utilization and increase the contact area during back electrode preparation. The X‐Ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy are used to characterize the crystallinity and crystal shape of pyramid‐shaped CZTS monocrystal. Besides, Finite‐Difference simulation calculation is employed to reveal the optical response and corresponding monograin layer solar cells performance of densely packed CZTS. The results show that the pyramid‐shaped structure exhibited excellent incident light trapping ability, and the simulated device achieves a cell efficiency with above 13.6% after parameter optimization. The work provides a method for preparing pyramid‐shaped CZTS monocrystal, and a new strategy to further improve the efficiency of CZTS‐based monograin layer solar cells.

Clinical outcomes with a new diffractive multifocal intraocular lens optimized by the dynamic light utilization algorithm.

To evaluate the refractive outcomes, optical performance, and the quality of vision in patients implanted with a new diffractive intraocular lens (IOL), the Intensity Hanita. This observational, prospective, longitudinal study included 64 eyes underwent bilateral cataract surgery with the Intensity IOL (Hanita Israel) implantation. Main outcome measures after 6 months were the following visual acuities (VAs) of uncorrected and corrected distance (UDVA and CDVA), uncorrected and distance corrected intermediate VAs (UIVA and DCIVA), uncorrected and distance corrected near (UNVA and DCNVA), refraction, slitlamp biomicroscopy, defocus curve (DFC),high ocular aberrations (HOA), contrast sensitivity (CS), optical quality, subjective quality of vision (QoV) and near activity visual questionnaires (NAVQ). Sixty-six percent of eyes having UDVA 0.10 logMAR or better. DFC showed maximum vision at distance (0.02 ± 0.07 LogMAR at 0.0 D), with flat decline through intermediate and near vision (0.11 ± 0.08 LogMAR at -1.5 D and 0.12 ± 0.12 at -2.5 D). No significant changes in CS were found (all spatial frequencies, p ≥ 0.06). The RMS of HOA, coma, trefoil, and SA were 0.21 ± 0.10, 0.10 ± 0.06, 0.11 ± 0.07, and 0.00 ± 0.04 μm and the Strehl ratio was 0.12 ± .04 at 6 months. Subjective symptoms (halos and glare) were reported mild but well tolerated, not causing significant disturbance in daily activities. The NAVQ showed high levels of satisfaction performing daily near-vision tasks. The Hanita Intensity diffractive IOL successfully restores all distances of vision. The flat profile of the monocular defocus curve confirms the five-foci distribution principle that provides vision at all ranges while increasing the depth of focus.

High‐Performance Self‐Powered PEC Photodetectors Based on 2D BiVO4/MXene Schottky Junction

AbstractAs an emerging field, self‐powered photoelectrochemical (PEC) photodetectors have gradually attracted extensive attention thanks to the unique working characteristics of low preparation cost, strong tunability of device performance, and environmental friendliness. However, short absorption wavelength range, low efficiency of visible light utilization, and low responsivity remain challenges for performance improvements. Here, the PEC photodetectors based on the 2D BiVO4/MXene Schottky junction structure, which shows excellent performance with high photocurrent density (≈3.90 mA cm−2 at 0 VSCE under AM 1.5 G, 150 mW cm−2), good responsivity (790.2 mA W−1 under 447 nm), fast response time (tr/tf = 8/14 ms), and long‐term stability (keep 17 000 s and 22 000 cycles) are fabricated. These can be attributed to the built‐in electric field at the BiVO4/MXene Schottky junction interface, which accelerates the transfer of photogenerated electrons and holes, and inhibits interfacial charge recombination. Additionally, the MXene nanosheets improve the absorption of visible‐light‐induced photons on the valence band of BiVO4. These excellent properties show that this work provides a scientific experimental reference for the further development of PEC photodetectors.

Superhydrophilic and porous carbon nanofiber membrane for high performance solar-driven interfacial evaporator

In light of the mounting global water crisis, solar interfacial evaporation has emerged as a pivotal technology for the advancement of water resource management. One of the most effective methods for enhancing the evaporation rate of solar evaporators is to optimize their utilization of light. In this study, a superhydrophilic Cu/C porous fiber evaporator was prepared using a multi-fluid electrospinning technology and a thermal treatment method. This evaporator exhibits excellent evaporation performance under the effect of Cu NPs, carbon fiber and a porous structure. The results demonstrated that the evaporation rate of the evaporator could reach 1.41 kg m−2 h−1 under one sunlight irradiation (Evaporation efficiency of 94.6 %). In addition, for wastewater containing organic dyes, acidic and alkaline, the evaporator has a significant cleaning effect. This high photothermal conversion efficiency suggests a promising avenue for the utilization of solar energy in water purification.

20.4% Power conversion efficiency from albedo-collecting organic solar cells under 0.2 albedo.

Highly efficient bifacial organic solar cells (OSCs) have not been reported due to limited thickness of the active layer in conventional configurations, not allowing for efficient harvesting of front sunlight and albedo light. Here, bifacial OSCs are reported with efficiency higher than the monofacial counterparts. The incorporation of pyramid-based asymmetrical optical transmission (AOT) array to a transparent silver electrode suppresses the escaping of front sunlight without sacrificing the harvesting of albedo light. Parasitic absorption induced by the excitation of surface plasmons in an AOT electrode is further reduced by doping organic emitter in electron transport layer and capping high dielectric constant film to silver. The rear electrode achieves a front transmittance of 7% and a rear transmission of 86%. At a conventional albedo of 0.2, the synergistic effect of AOT and minimized optical loss endow the bifacial OSCs with power conversion efficiency of 20.4%. This work paves the way for the utilization of albedo light in OSCs.

Exploring Porphyridium purpureum and Porphyridium aerugineum as alternative resources for phycobiliprotein production

Microalgae not only fix carbon dioxide, but also represent a promising alternative resource for the production of proteins, lipids, and polysaccharides. This study employed two Porphyridium strains to compare their responses under different light qualities. P. purpureum up-regulated the content (up to 69.37 ± 0.92 mg/g DW) and proportion of phycoerythrin to enhance light absorption, which led to the accumulation of total soluble proteins, neutral lipids and exopolysaccharides under blue light. In contrast, P. aerugineum primarily improved the light energy utilization by increasing phycocyanin levels (up to 81.10 ± 0.60 mg/g DW), resulting in the degradation of neutral lipids and the accumulation of exopolysaccharides. Given the biomass, the highest yields of phycoerythrin (169.61 ± 2.90 mg/L) and phycocyanin (216.92 ± 1.90 mg/L) were achieved by P. purpureum and P. aerugineum cultured under white light, respectively. These findings indicate that Porphyridium can serve as a valuable resource for phycobiliprotein production, with biomolecules synthesis being tightly regulated by light quality.

Enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution via yolk–heteroshell TiO2@TiO2/SiO2 nanoreactor with confined Pt nanoparticles

The upper limit of photocatalytic efficiency is largely determined by the light-harvesting capability of a semiconductor. To address this challenge, we developed a yolk-heteroshell TiO2@TiO2/SiO2 (T@T/S) nanoreactor, leveraging a novel design based on an in-depth understanding and innovative utilization of light-matter interactions. The T@T/S nanoreactor significantly enhances solar light capture and utilization efficiency through total internal reflection mechanisms facilitated by the heterogeneous shell. This heteroshell, consisting of an outer SiO2 shell an inner monolayer of TiO2 nanoparticles, maximizes light confinement due to the different refractive indices of SiO2 and TiO2, while also minimizing mass transfer resistance due to the thin inner shell layer. These unique structural features result in high photocatalytic activity under simulated solar light. Additionally, we successfully applied a “ship-in-a-bottle” strategy for the confined growth of platinum nanoparticles within T@T/S nanoreactor. The Pt0.5-T@T/S nanoreactors demonstrated excellent hydrogen production, achieving a hydrogen evolution rate of 24.43 mmol g−1h−1 under simulated sunlight and an apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) of 7.8 % at 350 nm. This study highlights the importance of nano-engineered designs in optimizing semiconductor photocatalysts and shows the significant potential of our approach for sustainable energy conversion and environmental protection.

Single layered Ag/NiO plasmonic nanocoatings: A new green synthesis method for selective solar absorber

This study presents the synthesis of environmentally benign, single-layered spectrally selective Ag/NiO nanocoating absorbers using a green synthesis method. Various characterization techniques, including Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM), were used to examine the effects of plasmonic Ag concentration on the structural, chemical composition, and surface morphology of the nanocomposites. The optical properties of the deposited nanocoatings were investigated using a UV–Vis-NIR spectrophotometer in the solar spectrum region (300–2500 nm) and an FT-IR spectrophotometer in the infrared wavelength region (3000–20,000 nm). XRD results confirmed the coexistence of a face-centered cubic phase of Ag and NiO in the Ag/NiO nanocermet thin films. SEM and TEM topography revealed uniformly distributed nanosphere NiO thin films and cubic Ag metal with better dispersibility and crystallization. The RBS spectrum of the samples showed a homogeneous distribution of Ni, Ag, and O atoms throughout the coatings. Ag/NiO nanocoatings deposited with 8 wt% Ag content exhibited excellent solar absorptance (α) = 0.95 and thermal emittance of (ɛ) of 0.08. This enhancement is primarily attributed to the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect associated with the embedded Ag nanoparticles, which facilitates more effective utilization of light.

Z-scheme BiOBr/WS2 heterojunction with integrated photocatalytic degradation and photothermal water evaporation for effective dye wastewater purification

The restoration of water resources and the optimization of solar energy use are critical challenges. In this study, hydrophilic BiOBr/WS2 Z-scheme heterojunctions were prepared using a series of reactions for solar interface water evaporation and photocatalytic degradation of RhB. WS2 nanoparticles were deposited on the surface of titanium mesh using a hydrothermal method, and BiOBr nanosheets were further modified on WS2 using a successive ionic layer adsorption reaction (SILAR) method and solvothermal method. The relatively broad absorption range of WS2 in the full spectrum resulted in enhanced light absorption and improved light utilization of BiOBr/WS2. The formation of Z-scheme heterojunction between BiOBr and WS2 improved the hydrophilicity of the material, enhanced the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in BiOBr/WS2 composite materials, and improved the solar interface water evaporation performance. The degradation rate of RhB by BiOBr/WS2 could reach 95.6% under one solar irradiation, and the photothermal water evaporation rate could reach 1.81 kgꞏm-2ꞏh-1. This study solved the problem of dye enrichment on solar absorber and provided a new way to construct an efficient solar interfacial water evaporation-photocatalytic system to treat dye wastewater.

Enhanced visible-light photocatalytic performance of hollow Bi/Bi4Ti3O12 microspheres assembled with Bi4Ti3O12 nanosheets and Bi nanodots synthesized by hydrothermal method

Bi4Ti3O12 (BTO) microspheres were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method, and 2-methoxyethanol was used as reductant for formation of Bi nanodots on BTO nanosheet surfaces. The morphology evolution and photocatalytic mechanism of Bi/BTO (B/BTO) composites were explored. As the B/BTO composite was synthesized at 200oC for 72h, the hollow B/BTO microspheres assembled with BTO nanosheets and Bi nanodots were formed due to the Ostwald-ripening mechanism. For the hollow B/BTO microsphere composites, the hollow-microsphere structure increased the surface area and the multiple internal reflections of light to enhance the light utilization efficiency, and the formation of B/BTO interfaces improved the separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers and efficient charge transfer. When the 2-methoxyethanol content in the Bi-Ti precursor was 2ml, the as-prepared hollow B/BTO microspheres exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance for TC degradation under visible-light irradiation due to the synergistic effect of hollow-microsphere structure and Bi nanodot decoration.

Review of Recent Offshore Floating Photovoltaic Systems

Photovoltaic (PV) power generation is a form of clean, renewable, and distributed energy that has become a hot topic in the global energy field. Compared to terrestrial solar PV systems, floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems have gained great interest due to their advantages in conserving land resources, optimizing light utilization, and slowing water evaporation. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in the research and application of FPV systems. First, the main components of FPV systems and their advantages as well as disadvantages are analyzed in detail. Furthermore, the research and practical applications of offshore FPV systems, including rigid floating structures and flexible floating structures, are discussed. Finally, the challenges of offshore FPV systems are analyzed in terms of their stability and economic performance. By summarizing current research on FPV systems, this overview aims to serve as a valuable resource for the development of offshore FPV systems.

Tailoring anisotropic ZnO/wood-structural holocellulose hybrids for dye degradation through controlled nanoinsertion

Nanostructured inorganic/wood-structural holocellulose hybrids offer new potential applications, including mechanical energy conversion, superhydrophobic materials, gas adsorption and so on. Owing to the anisotropy of wood, controlling the morphology of mineral particles inside porous holocellulose scaffold is still far from satisfactory. In this work, a homogeneous zinc oxide (ZnO) decoration inside wood-structural holocellulose scaffold was achieved while the morphology, distribution and content of ZnO micro-nano particles were controllable through changing the conditions of hydrothermal growth. The holocellulose scaffold was prepared through delignification and periodate oxidation, which is favorable for Zn2+ capture and ZnO nuclei formation because of the surface charge increased. The controlled ZnO insertion was realized by changing metal salt concentration, temperature and hydrothermal time. The obtained multilayer ZnO could provide multiple light refractions and reflections and enhance the utilization of light. Consequently, with a minor ZnO loading (15 wt%), the ZnO/wood-structural hybrids could totally degrade methyl orange and methyl blue in 6 h. This novel and scalable synthesis method shows potential for both the design and photocatalytic activity of holocellulose hybrids.

Joint Electrons and Photons Transfer from Dual‐Functional WO3:Yb,Er to Zn0.5Cd0.5S for Efficient H2 Evolution

AbstractUtilization of the near‐infrared (NIR) light in the solar spectrum is critical for efficiency improvement of photocatalytic H2 evolution. However, common semiconductors have low response to the NIR light and narrow bandgap semiconductors have inappropriate redox potentials. Here, the study presents a new dual‐functional up‐conversion strategy in one sensitizer for promoting photocatalytic hydrogen production reactions by converting NIR light to visible light and high‐energy electrons simultaneously, via photon‐photon conversion and photo‐electronic process, respectively. Using WO3:Yb,Er as the sensitizer and Zn0.5Cd0.5S as the hydrogen evolution reaction catalyst, a photocatalytic hydrogen release rate of 24.3 mmol g−1 h−1 under simulated solar‐light has been achieved without using any co‐catalyst. After loading Ni2P as a co‐catalyst, the photocatalytic hydrogen production performance can be further improved to 41.3 mmol g−1 h−1 at 10 °C and 93.3 mmol g−1 h−1 under non‐temperature‐controlled conditions, exceeding most photocatalysts. This work offers a new strategy to improve the NIR light utilization of the solar‐light for promoting photocatalytic hydrogen generation through synergistic photo‐optical, photo‐electronic, and photo‐thermal effects.

Wide Bandgap Donor can Offer High‐Efficiency LED Indoor Organic Photovoltaic with Indium‐Doped Zinc Oxide Electron Transport Layer

Indoor organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells offer a compelling solution for powering diverse electronic devices integrated into the Internet of Things (IoT) network. They are prized for their robust power conversion efficiency (PCE), mechanical resilience, and ultra‐thin nature. The recent surge in inverted‐structure OPVs reflects their enhanced stability over conventional designs. Despite the advantage, their adaptation for indoor light utilization remains underexplored. Optimal selection of an electron transport layer (ETL) with precise energy band alignment is critical in this system. Herein, an inverted‐structured OPV is fabricated utilizing PBDB‐T as the wide bandgap donor, with a focus on enhancing its PCE under 1000 lx LED illumination through the doping of the zinc oxide‐ (ZnO‐) based ETL with indium (In). The results indicate that the device utilizing undoped ZnO as the ETL achieves a peak PCE of 9.42% under these specified conditions. Conversely, the OPV utilizing In‐doped ZnO as the ETL achieves a significantly higher PCE of 29.78% with 5 at% In, indicates the usefulness of ETL doping by In. This may be caused by the tuning of energy band alignment, improvement in electron mobility, and reduction in surface roughness of ZnO by In doping.

Photoinduced Zn-Air Battery-Assisted Self-Powered Sensor Utilizing Cobalt and Sulfur Co-Doped Carbon Nitride for Portable Detection Device.

Most self-powered electrochemical sensors (SPESs) are limited by low open circuit voltage and power density, leading to a narrow detection range and low sensitivity. Herein, a photoinduced Zn-air battery-assisted SPES (ZAB-SPES) is proposed based on cobalt and sulfur co-doped carbon nitride with the cyano group (Co, S-CN). The cyano functionalization remarkably enhances visible light utilization, and the cyano moiety acts as an electron-withdrawing group to promote electron enrichment. Co and S co-doping can create a p-n homojunction within carbon nitride, enabling the efficient migration and separation of carriers, thereby significantly improving the performance of the oxygen reduction reaction. The synergistic effects endow Co, S-CN photocathode with an open circuit voltage of 1.85V and the maximum power density of 43.5µW cm-2 in the photoinduced ZAB. Employing heavy metal copper ions as the target model, the photoinduced ZAB-SPES exhibited dual-mode and sensitive detection. Furthermore, a portable detection device based on the photoinduced ZAB-SPES is designed and exhibits high linearity in the range of 5 ~ 600nM with a detection limit of 1.7nM. This work offers a portable detection method based on the photoinduced ZAB-SPES in the aquatic environment.

Rape straw biochar-assisted preparation of flower-like BiOCl with enriched oxygen vacancies for efficient photocatalytic CO2 reduction and pollutants degradation

Utilizing photocatalytic technology to transform CO2 into high added value chemical products has represented an effective strategy for alleviating the climate problems that have arisen due to excessive CO2 emissions. As a typical bismuth-based photocatalyst, BiOCl has garnered widespread attention due to its unique layered structure and low toxicity. However, the low light utilization efficiency and the rapid recombination of e−/h+ pairs severely hinder the practical application of BiOCl. Introducing oxygen vacancies (OVs) into BiOCl has been demonstrated to be one of the effective strategies for enhancing the photocatalytic performance of BiOCl. However, introduction of OVs through a mild and cost-effective approach remains a significant challenge. In this work, we developed a strategy for introducing OVs on BiOCl, which indues the growth of BiOCl into flower-like spherical structures and introduction of abundant OVs through addition of rape straw biochar (RC) under hydrothermal conditions. The synergistic interaction of RC and OVs endows with BiOCl more active sites as well as higher photogenerated carriers (e−/h+) separation efficiency. When the mass ratio of RC to BiOCl is 0.5 % (RC-0.5), the sample demonstrates the best performance, conversion of CO2 to CO on the sample is 4.0 μmol g−1 h−1, which is 3.08 times higher than that on the reference BiOCl. Additionally, versatility of the photocatalysts was further evaluated through photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). The degradation rate constant of RhB and PFOA on the RC-0.5 sample is 0.0642 min−1 and 0.00566 min−1, respectively, which is 2.26 times and 0.43 times higher than that on the reference BiOCl. Total organic carbon (TOC) experiments demonstrate that RhB can be effectively mineralized into CO2, H2O and small molecules on the photocatalyst. The main reactive species involved in the photocatalytic degradation process were investigated through active free radical trapping experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). This work provides a viable strategy for the development of high-performance BiOCl photocatalysts for environmental applications.

Non-Foliar Photosynthesis in Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Plants: Beyond the Leaves to Inside the Seeds

In addition to leaves, photosynthesis can occur in other green plant organs, including developing seeds of many crops. While the majority of studies examining photosynthesis are concentrated on the leaf level, the role of other green tissues in the production of total photoassimilates has been largely overlooked. The present work studies the photosynthetic behavior of leaves and non-foliar (pericarps, coats, and cotyledons) organs of pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants at the middle stage of seed maturation. The Chl a fluorescence transient was examined based on OJIP kinetics using the FluorPen FP 110. A discrepancy was observed between the performance index (PIABS) for foliar and non-foliar plant tissues, with the highest level noted in the leaves. The number of absorbed photons (ABS) and captured energy flow (TRo) per reaction center (RC) were elevated in the non-foliar tissues, which resulted in a faster reduction in QA. Conversely, the energy dissipation flux per RC (DIo/RC and PHI_Do) indicated an increase in the overall dissipation potential of active reaction centers of photosystem II. This phenomenon was attributed to the presence of a higher number of inactive RCs in tissues that had developed under low light intensity. Furthermore, the expression of genes associated with proteins and enzymes that regulate ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCo) activity was observed, including chaperonins Cpn60α and Cpn60β, RuBisCO activase, as well as phosphoribulokinase. The expression of these genes was found to differ between foliar and non-foliar tissues, indicating that the activation state of RuBisCO may be modified in response to light intensity. Overall, the present study provides insights into the mechanisms by which non-foliar green tissues of plants adapt to efficient light capture and utilization under low light conditions.

Yolk-Shell TiO2-NRs@SiO2 with enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production

The efficiency of photocatalysis largely hinges on the design of the photocatalysts, which can be optimized for effective light absorption, improved charge separation and transport, and faster surface reactions. In this research, we developed a yolk-shell nanostructured photocatalyst featuring one-dimensional TiO2 nanorods (NRs) cores encapsulated within a porous silica shell. After photodepositing Pt nanoparticles (NPs) onto the TiO2-NRs, the photocatalyst exhibited excellent performance. Under simulated sunlight, Pt2-TiO2-NRs@SiO2 achieved a photocatalytic efficiency of 55.47 mmol g-1h−1 using methanol as the sacrificial agent and an apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) of 7.93 % at 350 nm, surpassing most previously reported TiO2-based catalysts. This superior activity is attributed to 1D NRs, along with the hollow structure that enhances light utilization through multiple scattering. The stability and high catalytic performance of these yolk-shell structures highlight the effectiveness of our design strategy in fabricating novel, highly active, and stable catalysts.