Photoswitchable catalysis provides a non-invasive strategy for dynamically controlling light-driven chemical energy conversion processes. The defining advantage of photoswitchable catalytic systems lies in their unique dual capacity: (i) spatiotemporal precision in resolving reactive species generation through optical addressing, and (ii) adaptive multifunctionality enabling on-demand switching between distinct active phases, thereby suppressing competing pathways and eliminating undesired side reactions. Current research paradigms remain predominantly anchored in molecular systems, whereas solid-state semiconductor architectures—with their inherent advantages in recyclability and thermal stability—suffer from critical deficiencies in excitation-selective reactivity modulation and interfacial charge transfer kinetics. Here we comment on a recent work, writing in National Science Review, reported spin-orbit-coupling-mediated control over anti-Kasha photophysical pathways in semiconductors of carbonylated carbon nitride, enabling optically switchable catalytic dynamics. We further analyzed the profound implications of this work and presented a forward-looking outlook on the future development of the photoswitchable catalytic.

A water-soluble polymer stabilizer (VIB-co-VI-co-Py, Figure 1) assisted liquid-phase exfoliation (LPE), implemented by high-shear mixing rather than currently more often used bath/probe sonication, was developed as a new method for efficient production of few-layer graphene (FLG) in aqueous liquid. With help of VIB-co-VI-co-Py, stable aqueous dispersion of FLG forms in-situ with 90% of dispersed flakes of fewer than five layers and production rate up to 0.86 g h-1 by 5.0 L of aqueous liquid, representing the highest production rate per volume (0.17 g L-1 h-1) reported hitherto for LPE with the liquid volume no less than 5.0 L. The scale-up shear-exfoliated FLG exhibits high quality and excellent redispersibility in water, thus paving the way for a wide range of applications. As typical application demonstrations, the FLG-based flexible conductive films and polymer composite hydrogels were prepared and evaluated. The results show that the VIB-co-VI-co-Py exfoliated FLG performs well therein.