One of the Open Competition M grants has been awarded to Dr. Igor Siretanu, assistant professor in Physics of Complex Fluids (PCF) group.
The research of the project focusses on: How do faceted nanoparticles control the photocatalytic activity?
Direct semiconductor-based photocatalytic conversion of solar energy to chemical fuels is considered an ideal, renewable energy resource for the future. Crystal facet engineering is a versatile approach in modulating the photocatalytic activity of semiconductors. However, the facet-dependent properties and underlying mechanisms of charge separation are elusive and rarely explored experimentally. The goal of this proposal is to understand and optimize how specific facet properties, cocatalyst distribution, and ambient fluid composition control the e-/h+ separation and performance of photocatalysts. A novel operando Atomic Force Microscopy-based method that allows to quantify under illumination local (nm-resolved) surface structure, potentials and hydration structures on bare and cocatalyst-functionalized faceted photocatalyst will be implemented. This knowledge would help improving the activity of materials.
The grant of approximately 330 kEUR E will involve 1 PhD student.
