Aggregation‐Induced Synergy in Photocatalysis: Enhanced Light Harvesting and Efficient Charge Separation

The aggregated photocatalytic system has garnered significant attention as a novel platform for addressing contemporary environmental and energy challenges. These systems are typically assembled via weak noncovalent interactions-such as hydrogen bonding, van der Waals forces, and π-π stacking-among metal complexes, organic molecules, and polymers. In contrast to materials constructed with strong covalent or coordination bonds, the weak forces in these aggregates can readily alter their structural organization. This leads to distinct photophysical and chemical properties that differ markedly from their monomeric counterparts, ultimately influencing photocatalytic performance. Nevertheless, systematic understanding of aggregate photocatalysis remains limited, particularly regarding the fundamental mechanisms behind activity enhancement and the inherent constraints of this approach. This review systematically examines our group's research across three key areas: (1) the governing interactions within aggregates; (2) design strategies to improve their photocatalytic efficiency; and (3) representative applications in hydrogen evolution and CO<sub>2</sub> reduction. Furthermore, we identify critical challenges and propose promising future research directions, with the aim of accelerating the development of this rapidly evolving field.

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Publication Details

Journal
ChemSusChem
Published
2026-03-08
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202502706
Primary Topic
Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Aggregation‐Induced Synergy in Photocatalysis: Enhanced Light Harvesting and Efficient Charge Separation

J. -L. Wang, Pengju Yang, Hu Shi, Jianghong Zhao et al.
ChemSusChem
Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques
article

Aggregation‐Induced Synergy in Photocatalysis: Enhanced Light Harvesting and Efficient Charge Separation

J. -L. Wang, Pengju Yang, Hu Shi, Jianghong Zhao, Qi Zhang, Hongxia Zhang
article en

Abstract

The aggregated photocatalytic system has garnered significant attention as a novel platform for addressing contemporary environmental and energy challenges. These systems are typically assembled via weak noncovalent interactions-such as hydrogen bonding, van der Waals forces, and π-π stacking-among metal complexes, organic molecules, and polymers. In contrast to materials constructed with strong covalent or coordination bonds, the weak forces in these aggregates can readily alter their structural organization. This leads to distinct photophysical and chemical properties that differ markedly from their monomeric counterparts, ultimately influencing photocatalytic performance. Nevertheless, systematic understanding of aggregate photocatalysis remains limited, particularly regarding the fundamental mechanisms behind activity enhancement and the inherent constraints of this approach. This review systematically examines our group's research across three key areas: (1) the governing interactions within aggregates; (2) design strategies to improve their photocatalytic efficiency; and (3) representative applications in hydrogen evolution and CO<sub>2</sub> reduction. Furthermore, we identify critical challenges and propose promising future research directions, with the aim of accelerating the development of this rapidly evolving field.

ChemSusChemVol. 19(5)
Shanxi University (CN)
Affordable and clean energy
Openalex Percentile: Top 33%
Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques
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Aggregation‐Induced Synergy in Photocatalysis: Enhanced Light Harvesting and Efficient Charge Separation — J. -L. Wang, Pengju Yang, et al. · ChemSusChem (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS