This study aims to develop solid photocatalytic materials capable of efficiently converting lignocellulosic biomass, such as agricultural residues and woody biomass, into value-added chemicals under mild reaction conditions using solar energy as the driving force.
 Upon light irradiation of an aqueous suspension containing cellulose (the major component of lignocellulosic biomass) and semiconductor particles, photoexcited electrons in the semiconductor reduce water to evolve hydrogen, while the photogenerated holes oxidize cellulose to generate sugars, including glucose, as well as organic acids. Although this photocatalytic process has attracted considerable attention as a sustainable technology for solar-driven resource recycling, its efficiency remains limited because water-insoluble cellulose is oxidized through electron transfer across a solid–solid interface. Consequently, photocatalytic reactions are often conducted under strongly acidic or alkaline conditions to promote cellulose swelling or dissolution, and in some cases at elevated temperatures. From the viewpoints of environmental sustainability and cost reduction, however, it is highly desirable to achieve the reaction in aqueous media under ambient conditions.
 The resercher has previously developed composite photocatalysts by heteroassembling layered compounds with metal oxide nanoparticles and demonstrated that rational interface design significantly enhances material performance. Building on this expertise, the present study will apply the applicant’s nanoparticle-immobilized layered compound synthesis technology to establish design principles for photocatalysts capable of efficiently decomposing cellulose under mild conditions. Furthermore, the developed composite materials will be extended to the photoreforming of rice straw, rice husks, and underutilized woody biomass, thereby advancing the sustainable utilization of lignocellulosic biomass.