TITLE:
NC-0002 SOLAR ENERGY HARVESTING via PHOTOCATALYTIC WATER SPLITTING AND/OR CO2 REDUCTION BY CO-CATALYSTS
DESCRIPTION:
The world is striving to shift from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy. Solar light is an abundant source of energy, daily giving out 500 times the energy consumed by humanity. Sunlight can be transformed into chemical energy by employing photocatalytic reduction of
CO2 into highly energetic hydrocarbon molecules and water splitting into hydrogen and oxygen. The suggested bilateral group from the three research institutes (CEA, ZAG, NIC) has plentiful experience in the field of photocatalysis and solar energy capture. Additionally,
they possess complementary research equipment for characterization of developed materials as well as methods for evaluating material application. Within the proposed project we intend to synthesize new materials for light harvesting and capturing solar energy into highly energetic molecules such as hydrogen and hydrocarbons. We will do that by synthesizing novel hybrid materials on the basis of photocatalytic TiO2 to which we will deposit various cocatalysts (Pt, Pd, Cu, Ag, NiO, IrO2, RuO2) in order to improve its properties. We will focus on enhancing the activity of the new material and its selectivity to synthesize desired products. The materials will be characterized by XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, FTIR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, gas adsorption (BET), and zeta potential. CO2 reduction will be done in an enclosed, illuminated reactor system and the products will be analysed by GC-MS and HPLC. Hydrogen evolution will be tested in three electrodes electrochemical cell and illuminated by a mercury-xenon lamp. We will monitor material degradation after a selected
number of operation cycles. We will observe particle corrosion by employing the IL-SEM and IL-TEM methods. Additionally, dissolution of cocatalysts will be monitored by ICP-MS, capable of detecting concentrations in ppb range. The goal of the proposed project is to strengthen international cooperation between project partners, to acquire new knowledge of the processes that take place on hybrid materials and to research the possibility of synergistic effects between TiO2 as a base photocatalyst and deposited cocatalysts. One of the results will be common application of project partners to EU calls.
CO2 into highly energetic hydrocarbon molecules and water splitting into hydrogen and oxygen. The suggested bilateral group from the three research institutes (CEA, ZAG, NIC) has plentiful experience in the field of photocatalysis and solar energy capture. Additionally,
they possess complementary research equipment for characterization of developed materials as well as methods for evaluating material application. Within the proposed project we intend to synthesize new materials for light harvesting and capturing solar energy into highly energetic molecules such as hydrogen and hydrocarbons. We will do that by synthesizing novel hybrid materials on the basis of photocatalytic TiO2 to which we will deposit various cocatalysts (Pt, Pd, Cu, Ag, NiO, IrO2, RuO2) in order to improve its properties. We will focus on enhancing the activity of the new material and its selectivity to synthesize desired products. The materials will be characterized by XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, FTIR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, gas adsorption (BET), and zeta potential. CO2 reduction will be done in an enclosed, illuminated reactor system and the products will be analysed by GC-MS and HPLC. Hydrogen evolution will be tested in three electrodes electrochemical cell and illuminated by a mercury-xenon lamp. We will monitor material degradation after a selected
number of operation cycles. We will observe particle corrosion by employing the IL-SEM and IL-TEM methods. Additionally, dissolution of cocatalysts will be monitored by ICP-MS, capable of detecting concentrations in ppb range. The goal of the proposed project is to strengthen international cooperation between project partners, to acquire new knowledge of the processes that take place on hybrid materials and to research the possibility of synergistic effects between TiO2 as a base photocatalyst and deposited cocatalysts. One of the results will be common application of project partners to EU calls.
DURATION:
2018/05/01 - 2020/04/30
FUNDING:
SRA - Slovenian Research Agency
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