Haining Tian group

Molecular devices for artificial photosynthesis.
Our research
Converting sunlight into electricity, fuels and chemicals is an important strategy to utilize and store the solar energy. Our group is mainly working on development and study of new organic materials and using them to fabricate devices for solar energy conversion and storage.
The research projects in our group cover:
- Organic polymer nano-photocatalysts
- Devices for water splitting/CO2 reduction
- Solid state p-type mesoporous solar cells
- Semiconductor interface
Follow us on Twitter: @tian_lab
We have intimate collaborations with The Swedish Center of Artificial Photosynthesis (CAP) and the Center of Molecular Devices.
Group members
Publications
Revising exciton diffusion lengths in polymer dot photocatalysts
Part of Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics - PCCP, p. 1083-1088, 2025
- DOI for Revising exciton diffusion lengths in polymer dot photocatalysts
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Win-Win More Sustainable Routes for Acetic Acid Synthesis
Part of ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, p. 1522-1531, 2025
- DOI for Win-Win More Sustainable Routes for Acetic Acid Synthesis
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The Role of Benzothiadiazole Unit in Organic Polymers on Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production
Part of JACS Au, p. 570-577, 2024
- DOI for The Role of Benzothiadiazole Unit in Organic Polymers on Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production
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Part of ACS Catalysis, p. 4186-4201, 2024
- DOI for Ultrafast Electron Transfer from CuInS2 Quantum Dots to a Molecular Catalyst for Hydrogen Production: Challenging Diffusion Limitations
- Download full text (pdf) of Ultrafast Electron Transfer from CuInS2 Quantum Dots to a Molecular Catalyst for Hydrogen Production: Challenging Diffusion Limitations
Part of Advanced Science, 2024
- DOI for Recyclable and Stable Porphyrin-Based Self-Assemblies by Electrostatic Force for Efficient Photocatalytic Organic Transformation
- Download full text (pdf) of Recyclable and Stable Porphyrin-Based Self-Assemblies by Electrostatic Force for Efficient Photocatalytic Organic Transformation
Part of ChemPhotoChem, 2024
- DOI for An Indacenodithieno[3,2-b]thiophene-based Organic Dye for P-type Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells and Photoelectrochemical H2O2 Production
- Download full text (pdf) of An Indacenodithieno[3,2-b]thiophene-based Organic Dye for P-type Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells and Photoelectrochemical H2O2 Production
Part of Nature Communications, 2024
- DOI for Embedding biocatalysts in a redox polymer enhances the performance of dye-sensitized photocathodes in bias-free photoelectrochemical water splitting
- Download full text (pdf) of Embedding biocatalysts in a redox polymer enhances the performance of dye-sensitized photocathodes in bias-free photoelectrochemical water splitting
Part of Advanced Science, 2024
- DOI for Biodegradable Ruthenium-Rhenium Complexes Containing Nanoamplifiers: Triggering ROS-Induced CO Release for Synergistic Cancer Treatment
- Download full text (pdf) of Biodegradable Ruthenium-Rhenium Complexes Containing Nanoamplifiers: Triggering ROS-Induced CO Release for Synergistic Cancer Treatment
Part of Chemical Science, p. 16789-16795, 2024
- DOI for Photobiocatalytic CO2 reduction into CO by organic nanorod-carbon monoxide dehydrogenase assemblies: surfactant matters
- Download full text (pdf) of Photobiocatalytic CO2 reduction into CO by organic nanorod-carbon monoxide dehydrogenase assemblies: surfactant matters
Small Organic Molecular Electrocatalysts for Fuels Production
Part of Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2024
- DOI for Small Organic Molecular Electrocatalysts for Fuels Production
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Part of Nature Communications, 2024
- DOI for Covalently linked molecular catalysts in conjugated polymer dots boost photocatalytic alcohol oxidation in neutral condition
- Download full text (pdf) of Covalently linked molecular catalysts in conjugated polymer dots boost photocatalytic alcohol oxidation in neutral condition
A solid-state p–n tandem dye-sensitized solar cell
Part of Sustainable Energy & Fuels, p. 1004-1011, 2024
- DOI for A solid-state p–n tandem dye-sensitized solar cell
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Mechanistic Insights into the Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production of Y5 and Y6 Nanoparticles
Part of The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, p. 12631-12639, 2023
- DOI for Mechanistic Insights into the Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production of Y5 and Y6 Nanoparticles
- Download full text (pdf) of Mechanistic Insights into the Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production of Y5 and Y6 Nanoparticles
Organic Polymer Dots Photocatalyze CO2 Reduction in Aqueous Solution
Part of Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2023
- DOI for Organic Polymer Dots Photocatalyze CO2 Reduction in Aqueous Solution
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Part of Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics - PCCP, p. 2935-2945, 2023
- DOI for Excited-state and charge-carrier dynamics in binary conjugated polymer dots towards efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution
- Download full text (pdf) of Excited-state and charge-carrier dynamics in binary conjugated polymer dots towards efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution
Visible-light photoredox catalysis with organic polymers
Part of CHEMICAL PHYSICS REVIEWS, 2023
- DOI for Visible-light photoredox catalysis with organic polymers
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Phenoxazine-based small molecule heterojunction nanoparticles for photocatalytic hydrogen production
Part of Chemical Communications, p. 5611-5614, 2023
- DOI for Phenoxazine-based small molecule heterojunction nanoparticles for photocatalytic hydrogen production
- Download full text (pdf) of Phenoxazine-based small molecule heterojunction nanoparticles for photocatalytic hydrogen production
Part of Journal of the American Chemical Society, p. 11472-11476, 2023
- DOI for Lateral Electron and Hole Hopping between Dyes on Mesoporous ZrO2: Unexpected Influence of Solvents with a Low Dielectric Constant
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Making the connections: physical and electric interactions in biohybrid photosynthetic systems
Part of Energy & Environmental Science, p. 4305-4319, 2023
- DOI for Making the connections: physical and electric interactions in biohybrid photosynthetic systems
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Part of Journal of the American Chemical Society, p. 11067-11073, 2023
- DOI for Charge Recombination Deceleration by Lateral Transfer of Electrons in Dye-Sensitized NiO Photocathode
- Download full text (pdf) of Charge Recombination Deceleration by Lateral Transfer of Electrons in Dye-Sensitized NiO Photocathode
Part of ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, p. 2183-2191, 2023
Part of Catalysts, 2022
- DOI for Hydroxyl-Decorated Diiron Complex as a [FeFe]-Hydrogenase Active Site Model Complex: Light-Driven Photocatalytic Activity and Heterogenization on Ethylene-Bridged Periodic Mesoporous Organosilica
- Download full text (pdf) of Hydroxyl-Decorated Diiron Complex as a [FeFe]-Hydrogenase Active Site Model Complex: Light-Driven Photocatalytic Activity and Heterogenization on Ethylene-Bridged Periodic Mesoporous Organosilica
Part of Energy Advances, p. 303-311, 2022
- DOI for Assessing the effect of surface states of mesoporous NiO films on charge transport and unveiling an unexpected light response phenomenon in tandem dye-sensitized solar cells
- Download full text (pdf) of Assessing the effect of surface states of mesoporous NiO films on charge transport and unveiling an unexpected light response phenomenon in tandem dye-sensitized solar cells
Part of ACS Applied Energy Materials, p. 12022-12028, 2022
- DOI for Atomic Layer Deposition of SnO2 as an Electron Transport Material for Solid-State P-type Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
- Download full text (pdf) of Atomic Layer Deposition of SnO2 as an Electron Transport Material for Solid-State P-type Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Part of Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics - PCCP, p. 18888-18895, 2022
- DOI for Electrochemical impedance and X-ray absorption spectroscopy analyses of degradation in dye-sensitized solar cells containing cobalt tris(bipyridine) redox shuttles
- Download full text (pdf) of Electrochemical impedance and X-ray absorption spectroscopy analyses of degradation in dye-sensitized solar cells containing cobalt tris(bipyridine) redox shuttles
Gold nanoparticle-based supramolecular approach for dye-sensitized H-2-evolving photocathodes
Part of Dalton Transactions, p. 15716-15724, 2022
- DOI for Gold nanoparticle-based supramolecular approach for dye-sensitized H-2-evolving photocathodes
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Part of Journal of the American Chemical Society, p. 13600-13611, 2022
- DOI for Polymer Dots as Photoactive Membrane Vesicles for [FeFe]-Hydrogenase Self-Assembly and Solar-Driven Hydrogen Evolution
- Download full text (pdf) of Polymer Dots as Photoactive Membrane Vesicles for [FeFe]-Hydrogenase Self-Assembly and Solar-Driven Hydrogen Evolution
Part of Chemical Society Reviews, p. 6909-6935, 2022
- DOI for Preparation, characterization, evaluation and mechanistic study of organic polymer nano-photocatalysts for solar fuel production
- Download full text (pdf) of Preparation, characterization, evaluation and mechanistic study of organic polymer nano-photocatalysts for solar fuel production
Part of Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2022
Organic Polymer Dots Based on Star-Shaped Truxene-Core Polymers for Photocatalytic H2O2 Production
Part of Solar RRL, 2022
- DOI for Organic Polymer Dots Based on Star-Shaped Truxene-Core Polymers for Photocatalytic H2O2 Production
- Download full text (pdf) of Organic Polymer Dots Based on Star-Shaped Truxene-Core Polymers for Photocatalytic H2O2 Production
Electron-hopping across dye-sensitized mesoporous NiO surfaces
Part of Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics - PCCP, p. 29850-29861, 2022
- DOI for Electron-hopping across dye-sensitized mesoporous NiO surfaces
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Part of Coordination chemistry reviews, 2021
- DOI for Catalytic systems mimicking the [FeFe]-hydrogenase active site for visible-light-driven hydrogen production
- Download full text (pdf) of Catalytic systems mimicking the [FeFe]-hydrogenase active site for visible-light-driven hydrogen production
Small Organic Molecule Based on Benzothiadiazole for Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Production
Part of Journal of the American Chemical Society, p. 21229-21233, 2021
- DOI for Small Organic Molecule Based on Benzothiadiazole for Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Production
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Nanotechnology for catalysis and solar energy conversion
Part of Nanotechnology, 2021
- DOI for Nanotechnology for catalysis and solar energy conversion
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Part of ACS Nano, p. 13504-13515, 2021
- DOI for From NiMoO4 to γ-NiOOH: Detecting the Active Catalyst Phase by Time Resolved in Situ and Operando Raman Spectroscopy
- Download full text (pdf) of From NiMoO4 to γ-NiOOH: Detecting the Active Catalyst Phase by Time Resolved in Situ and Operando Raman Spectroscopy
Part of The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, p. 14751-14764, 2021
- DOI for Ultrafast Dynamics in Cu-Deficient CuInS2 Quantum Dots: Sub-Bandgap Transitions and Self-Assembled Molecular Catalysts
- Download full text (pdf) of Ultrafast Dynamics in Cu-Deficient CuInS2 Quantum Dots: Sub-Bandgap Transitions and Self-Assembled Molecular Catalysts
Part of Journal of the American Chemical Society, p. 2875-2885, 2021
- DOI for Panchromatic Ternary Polymer Dots Involving Sub-Picosecond Energy and Charge Transfer for Efficient and Stable Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
- Download full text (pdf) of Panchromatic Ternary Polymer Dots Involving Sub-Picosecond Energy and Charge Transfer for Efficient and Stable Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
Part of ACS Applied Energy Materials, p. 4308-4312, 2021
- DOI for In Situ Preparation and Immobilization of Semiconducting Polymer Dots on Microbeads for Efficient and Stable Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
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Part of ACS Catalysis, p. 9943-9952, 2020
- DOI for Carbon Dots and [FeFe] Hydrogenase Biohybrid Assemblies for Efficient Light-Driven Hydrogen Evolution
- Download full text (pdf) of Carbon Dots and [FeFe] Hydrogenase Biohybrid Assemblies for Efficient Light-Driven Hydrogen Evolution
Part of ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, p. 31372-31381, 2020
- DOI for Understanding the Performance of NiO Photocathodes with Alkyl-Derivatized Cobalt Catalysts and a Push-Pull Dye
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Using Surface Amide Couplings to Assemble Photocathodes for Solar Fuel Production Applications
Part of ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, p. 4501-4509, 2020
Revisiting the Limiting Factors for Overall Water-Splitting on Organic Photocatalysts
Part of Angewandte Chemie International Edition, p. 16278-16293, 2020
- DOI for Revisiting the Limiting Factors for Overall Water-Splitting on Organic Photocatalysts
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Understanding the Role of Surface States on Mesoporous NiO Films
Part of Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2020
Part of Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics - PCCP, p. 13850-13861, 2020
- DOI for Towards sustainable and efficient p-type metal oxide semiconductor materials in dye-sensitised photocathodes for solar energy conversion
- Download full text (pdf) of Towards sustainable and efficient p-type metal oxide semiconductor materials in dye-sensitised photocathodes for solar energy conversion
Part of Chemical Communications, p. 7918-7921, 2019
- DOI for A heavy metal-free CuInS2 quantum dot sensitized NiO photocathode with a Re molecular catalyst for photoelectrochemical CO2 reduction
- Download full text (pdf) of A heavy metal-free CuInS2 quantum dot sensitized NiO photocathode with a Re molecular catalyst for photoelectrochemical CO2 reduction
Part of Journal of Materials Chemistry A, p. 4797-4803, 2019
- DOI for Hollow polymer dots: nature-mimicking architecture for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction
- Download full text (pdf) of Hollow polymer dots: nature-mimicking architecture for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction
Solid-state p-type dye-sensitized solar cells: progress, potential applications and challenges
Part of Sustainable Energy & Fuels, p. 888-898, 2019
- DOI for Solid-state p-type dye-sensitized solar cells: progress, potential applications and challenges
- Download full text (pdf) of Solid-state p-type dye-sensitized solar cells: progress, potential applications and challenges
Mechanistic Insights into Solid-State p-Type Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Part of The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, p. 26151-26160, 2019
Part of Nano Energy, p. 59-64, 2019
Part of ChemSusChem, p. 3243-3248, 2019