Dr. Igor Siretanu, assistant professor in the Physics of Complex Fluids group, has been awarded one of the prestigious Open Competition M grants for his innovative research on photocatalysis.
The grant, worth approximately 330 kEUR, will support Dr. Siretanu's project which aims to understand how faceted nanoparticles control the photocatalytic activity of semiconductors.
Solar light–driven photocatalytic water splitting using faceted semiconductor nanoparticles has become a promising method to efficiently convert solar energy into hydrogen, a renewable energy resource for the future. However, the facet-dependent properties and underlying mechanisms of charge separation in these materials remain largely unknown. Dr. Siretanu's research aims to change that, using a novel operando Atomic Force Microscopy-based method to study local surface structures, potentials, and hydration structures on faceted photocatalysts under illumination. By understanding how specific facet properties, cocatalyst distribution, and ambient fluid composition control the separation of electrons and holes in these materials, the team hopes to optimize their performance.
The grant will support the work of one PhD student as part of the project, which has the potential to revolutionize the photocatalysis community and unlock the full potential of semiconductor-based photocatalytic materials.
