In this review, we introduce photonic crystal fibre as a novel optofluidic microdevice that can be employed as both a versatile chemical sensor and a highly efficient microreactor. We demonstrate that it provides an excellent platform in which light and chemical samples can strongly interact for quantitative spectroscopic analysis or photoactivation purposes. The use of photonic crystal fibre in photochemistry and sensing is discussed and recent results on gas and liquid sensing as well as on photochemical and catalytic reactions are reviewed. These developments demonstrate that the tight light confinement, enhanced light-matter interaction and reduced sample volume offered by photonic crystal fibre make it useful in a wide range of chemical applications.

Developing cost‐effective electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is a prerequisite for broad market penetration of low‐temperature fuel cells. A major barrier stems from the poisoning of surface sites by nonreactive oxygenated species and the sluggish ORR kinetics on the Pt catalysts. Herein we report a facile approach to accelerating ORR kinetics by using a hydrophobic ionic liquid (IL), which protects Pt sites from surface oxidation, making the IL‐modified Pt intrinsically more active than its unmodified counterpart. The mass activity of the catalyst is increased by three times to 1.01 A mg⁻¹_Pt@0.9 V, representing a new record for pure Pt catalysts. The enhanced performance of the IL‐modified catalyst can be stabilized after 30 000 cycles. We anticipate these results will form the basis for an unprecedented perspective in the development of high‐performing electrocatalysts for fuel‐cell applications.