Semiconductors with NIR driven upconversion performance for photocatalysis and photoelectrochemical water splitting

Infrared light (IR) occupies about 50% of solar irradiation, therefore, how to effectively utilize IR light is one of the main issues at present. Two major strategies which have been pursued for the development and utilization of near infrared (NIR) light in the field of photocatalysis and photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting are reviewed in this highlight. The main text is divided into two parts: the first is the modification of semiconductors with upconversion lanthanide (Ln) compounds; the other is the modification of semiconductors with upconversion carbon quantum dots (CQDs).