Broad absorption spectra with efficient generation and separation of available charge carriers are indispensable requirements for promising semiconductor-based photocatalysts to achieve the ultimate goal of solar-to-fuel conversion. Here, Cu_3-xSnS₄ (x = 0-0.8) with copper vacancies have been prepared and fabricated via solvothermal process. The obtained copper vacancy materials have extended light absorption from ultraviolet to near-infrared-Ⅱ region for its significant plasmonic effects. Time-resolved photoluminescence shows that the vacancies can simultaneously optimize charge carrier dynamics to boost the generation of long-lived active electrons for photocatalytic reduction. Density functional theory calculations and electrochemical characterizations further revealed that copper vacancies in Cu_3-xSnS₄ tend to enhance hydrogen's adsorption energy with an obvious decrease in its H₂ evolution reaction (HER) overpotential. Furthermore, without any loadings, the H₂ production rate was measured to be 9.5 mmol·h^-1·g^-1. The apparent quantum yield was measured to be 27% for wavelength λ > 380 nm. The solar energy conversion efficiency was measured to be 6.5% under visible-near infrared (vis-NIR) (λ > 420 nm).

Silicon is a low price and high capacity anode material for lithium-ion batteries. The yolk-shell structure can effectively accommodate Si expansion to improve stability. However, the limited rate performance of Si anodes can't meet people's growing demand for high power density. Herein, the phosphorus-doped yolk-shell Si@C materials (P-doped Si@C) were prepared through carbon coating on P-doped Si/SiO_x matrix to obtain high power and stable devices. Therefore, the as-prepared P-doped Si@C electrodes delivered a rapid increase in Coulombic efficiency from 74.4% to 99.6% after only 6 cycles, high capacity retention of ~ 95% over 800 cycles at 4 A·g⁻¹, and great rate capability (510 mAh·g⁻¹ at 35 A·g⁻¹). As a result, P-doped Si@C anodes paired with commercial activated carbon and LiFePO₄ cathode to assemble lithium-ion capacitor (high power density of ~ 61,080 W·kg⁻¹ at 20 A·g⁻¹) and lithium-ion full cell (good rate performance with 68.3 mAh·g⁻¹ at 5 C), respectively. This work can provide an effective way to further improve power density and stability for energy storage devices.

Urchin-like SnO₂ microspheres have been grown for use as photoanodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). We observed that a thin layer coating of TiO₂ on urchin-like SnO₂ microsphere photoanodes greatly enhanced dye loading capability and light scattering ability, and achieved comparable solar cell performance even at half the thickness of a typical nanocrystalline TiO₂ photoanode. In addition, this photoanode only required attaching ~55% of the amount of dye for efficient light harvesting compared to one based on nanocrystalline TiO₂. Longer decay of transient photovoltage and higher charge recombination resistance evidenced from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of the devices based on TiO₂ coated urchin-like SnO₂ revealed slower recombination rates of electrons as a result of the thin blocking layer of TiO₂ coated on urchinlike SnO₂. TiO₂ coated urchin-like SnO₂ showed the highest value (76.1 ms) of electron lifetime (τ) compared to 2.4 ms for bare urchin-like SnO₂ and 14.9 ms for nanocrystalline TiO₂. TiO₂ coated SnO₂ showed greatly enhanced open circuit voltage (V_oc), short-circuit current density (J_sc) and fill factor (FF) leading to a four-fold increase in efficiency increase compared to bare SnO₂. Although TiO₂ coated urchin-like SnO₂ showed slightly lower cell efficiency than nanocrystalline TiO₂, it only used a half thickness of photoanode and saved ~45% of the amount of dye for efficient light harvesting compared to normal nanocrystalline TiO₂.