Topics in Current Chemistry (2018) 376:45
https://doi.org/10.1007/s41061-018-0223-2
1 3
REVIEW
Solar Photochemistry in Flow
Dario Cambié
1
· Timothy Noël
1
Received: 31 July 2018 / Accepted: 28 October 2018 / Published online: 19 November 2018
© The Author(s) 2018
Abstract
In recent years, photochemistry has been a highly active research field. This renaissance is linked to the upsurge of photoredox catalysis, a versatile platform for synthetic methodologies using visible light photons as a traceless reagent. In contrast
with UV, visible light constitutes almost half of the ground solar irradiance, making
the use of solar light in chemistry a sustainable and viable possibility. However, the
direct use of sunlight to power chemical reactions is still little explored. This can
be explained by both the hurdles associated with solar radiation (e.g., its variability, irreproducibility, high IR content, etc.) and the need for a specialized photoreactor. Most of these issues can be tackled with technological solutions, and especially
with the recourse to flow chemistry. Flow chemistry goes hand in hand with photochemistry thanks to the uniform irradiation it provides to the reaction. Furthermore,
a continuous-flow reactor can be easily integrated with different solar collectors
(including compound parabolic concentrators and luminescent solar concentrators)
and constitutes the most efficient approach to solar photochemistry. After a description of the characteristics of the solar radiation relevant to chemistry, this chapter
critically describes the different type of solar photoreactors and their applications in
synthetic organic chemistry. Finally, an outlook on the future of solar photochemistry in flow is included.
Keywords Solar photochemistry · Flow chemistry · Green chemistry · Solar energy
* Timothy Noël
T.Noel@tue.nl
1
Micro Flow Chemistry and Process Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering
and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, Den Dolech 2, 5600 MB Eindhoven,
The Netherlands
1
Reprinted from the journal
https://doi.org/10.1007/s41061-018-0223-2.
Chapter 1 was originally published as Cambié, D. & Noël, T. Topics in Current Chemistry (2018) 376: 45.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s41061-018-0223-2
1 3
REVIEW
Solar Photochemistry in Flow
Dario Cambié
1
· Timothy Noël
1
Received: 31 July 2018 / Accepted: 28 October 2018 / Published online: 19 November 2018
© The Author(s) 2018
Abstract
In recent years, photochemistry has been a highly active research field. This renaissance is linked to the upsurge of photoredox catalysis, a versatile platform for synthetic methodologies using visible light photons as a traceless reagent. In contrast
with UV, visible light constitutes almost half of the ground solar irradiance, making
the use of solar light in chemistry a sustainable and viable possibility. However, the
direct use of sunlight to power chemical reactions is still little explored. This can
be explained by both the hurdles associated with solar radiation (e.g., its variability, irreproducibility, high IR content, etc.) and the need for a specialized photoreactor. Most of these issues can be tackled with technological solutions, and especially
with the recourse to flow chemistry. Flow chemistry goes hand in hand with photochemistry thanks to the uniform irradiation it provides to the reaction. Furthermore,
a continuous-flow reactor can be easily integrated with different solar collectors
(including compound parabolic concentrators and luminescent solar concentrators)
and constitutes the most efficient approach to solar photochemistry. After a description of the characteristics of the solar radiation relevant to chemistry, this chapter
critically describes the different type of solar photoreactors and their applications in
synthetic organic chemistry. Finally, an outlook on the future of solar photochemistry in flow is included.
Keywords Solar photochemistry · Flow chemistry · Green chemistry · Solar energy
* Timothy Noël
T.Noel@tue.nl
1
Micro Flow Chemistry and Process Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering
and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, Den Dolech 2, 5600 MB Eindhoven,
The Netherlands
1
Reprinted from the journal
https://doi.org/10.1007/s41061-018-0223-2.
Chapter 1 was originally published as Cambié, D. & Noël, T. Topics in Current Chemistry (2018) 376: 45.