HEИндивидуална стипендия2023–2025

SCI-PHI · Single-atom Catalysis in Photocatalytic Investigations

„Хоризонт Европа“ — Действия „Мария Склодовска-Кюри“

Период: 2023-09-01 → 2025-08-31
Финансиране от ЕС: 183 601 €
Участници: 1
Схема: HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF

Линиите свързват координатора с партньорите.

Накратко на български

Единични метални атоми върху полупроводници се изследват като центрове за химични реакции, например при разлагането на вода до водород и кислород чрез светлина. Това помага за по-доброто разбиране на фотокатализата, която е технология за производство на чиста енергия.

Този кратък обзор е генериран от изкуствен интелект

Кратко обяснение, генерирано от езиков модел по текста на CORDIS. Оригиналът е по-долу.

Резултати накратко

Single-atom Catalysis in Photocatalytic Investigations

This project set out to investigate the role of individual atoms in light-driven chemical reactions, a field known as photocatalysis. Photocatalysis is a promising technology for clean energy because it uses sunlight to power chemical reactions, for example to split water into hydrogen and oxygen or to convert carbon dioxide into useful fuels. However, despite its potential, photocatalysis remains poorly understood on a fundamental level. Many questions remain about how light energy is absorbed, how charges move inside a material, and how molecules interact with the surface. A particularly exciting avenue is the use of so-called single-atom catalysts: semiconductor materials that carry individual metal atoms anchored to their surface. These atoms can act as highly efficient reaction centers. Yet, because the field is new, little is known about their precise function. Our project addressed this knowledge gap by studying photocatalysis under highly controlled conditions, using advanced physical chemistry tools to “zoom in” on the atomic scale.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз

Цел на проекта

In the light of environmental and energy supply crises, new technologies which can satisfy mankind's energy demand in a sustainable way must be developed. Heterogeneous photocatalysis is one of the most promising fields of research in this regard, as it allows to directly convert energy in sunlight to chemical bonds in molecules. The process is conceptually similar to the photosynthetic process in plants, but a semiconductor is used to absorb the light and catalyze the reactions. In reality, a so-called co-catalyst on the semiconductor surface is necessary for proper function, and this usually means depositing noble metal particles on the surface. Exactly how such nanoparticles work is usually elusive, and this makes the rational design and optimization of photocatalysts difficult. The high costs of the precious metal is also a major roadblock making the upscaling of a lab-scale photocatalyst economically unviable. If we can better understand the role of the co-catalyst, we can develop new strategies to reduce or even replace this material with more economical alternatives. In this proposal, we intend to apply the concept of single-atom catalysis to heterogeneous photocatalysis. Single noble metal atoms such as Platinum, Rhodium or Iridium will be deposited directly on semiconductor single crystal surfaces of Titanium dioxide and hematite (Iron oxide) with a precisely known structure. Highly sensitive surface science methods, including scanning probe microscopy as well as spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques, will be used to characterize the local structure of the active site, and relate it to the catalytic function. The project combines the expertise of the host group in the synthesis and characterization of single atoms on metal oxides, and the applicant’s practical knowledge of UHV photocatalysis, and will ultimately establish clear structure-performance relationships in order to facilitate the rational design of economically viable photocatalysts.

Оригинален текст от CORDIS (на английски).

Участници

TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET WIEN · WienКоординаторАвстрия