This review describes and categorizes the synthesis and properties of low density porous materials, which are commonly referred to as foams and are utilized for laser plasma experiments. By focusing a high-power laser on a small target composed of these materials, high energy and density states can be produced. In the past decade or so, various new target fabrication techniques have been developed by many laboratories that use high energy lasers and consequently, many publications and reviews followed these developments. However, the emphasis so far has been on targets that did not utilize low density porous materials. This review therefore, attempts to redress this balance and endeavors to review low density materials used in laser plasma experiments in recent years. The emphasis of this review will be on aspects of low density materials that are of relevance to high energy laser plasma experiments. Aspects of low density materials such as densities, elemental compositions, macroscopic structures, nanostructures, and characterization of these materials will be covered. Also, there will be a brief mention of how these aspects affect the results in laser plasma experiments and the constrictions that these requirements put on the fabrication of low density materials relevant to this field. This review is written from the chemists' point of view to aid physicists and the new comers to this field.

Visible-light-driven photoelectrochemical (PEC) and photocatalytic water splitting systems featuring heterogeneous semiconductor photocatalysts (oxynitrides, oxysulfides, organophotocatalysts) signify an environmentally friendly and promising approach for the manufacturing of renewable hydrogen fuel. Semiconducting electrode materials as the main constituents in the PEC water splitting system have substantial effects on the device’s solar-to-hydrogen (STH) conversion efficiency. Given the complication of the photocatalysis and photoelectrolysis methods, it is indispensable to include the different electrocatalytic materials for advancing visible-light-driven water splitting, considered a difficult challenge. Heterogeneous semiconductor-based materials with narrower bandgaps (2.5 to 1.9 eV), equivalent to the theoretical STH efficiencies ranging from 9.3% to 20.9%, are recognized as new types of photoabsorbents to engage as photoelectrodes for PEC water oxidation and have fascinated much consideration. Herein, we spotlight mainly on heterogenous semiconductor-based photoanode materials for PEC water splitting. Different heterogeneous photocatalysts based materials are emphasized in different groups, such as oxynitrides, oxysulfides, and organic solids. Lastly, the design approach and future developments regarding heterogeneous photocatalysts oxide electrodes for PEC applications and photocatalytic applications are also discussed.

This study examined a water-splitting system comprising a TiO₂ photoanode and an organo-photocathode consisting of a p–n bilayer.

The present report describes ultralow density (2~10 mg/cm³) hydrocarbon plastic (CH₂) foams with a controllable micro- or nano-meter-sized lamella structure. These foams are prepared from a poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) gel with hexanol and butanol derivatives by extraction using supercritical fluid CO₂. Their intended use is in laser-plasma experiments and as a laser-plasma X-ray source. Their microstructure approached to nanometer and was varied using different alcohols. The finest ultralow density foam was prepared from 2-butanol gel.