CATL 28 |
| Solar-driven water splitting represents an almost ideal and potentially enormous source of energy. Pioneering work was performed many years ago, however, a number of challenges limit the efficiency and applicability of this technology. Most materials that are capable of water-splitting are either limited in their activity to the UV region, where there is little solar energy, or are not sufficiently stable for long term use. A new approach in the field is the use of main group elements for anion-doping of TiO2 and other metal oxides. This approach has shown much improved potential for generating hydrogen efficiently. We have prepared a number of anion-doped metal oxide nanoparticle materials, and several of these show promise for efficient visible photocatalysis, or water-splitting. NMR and other analytical methods are very useful to characterize the detailed chemistry, identify the nature of the dopants, follow the synthetic steps, and relate structure to activity. |
|
Photocatalysis
1:30 PM-4:50 PM, Tuesday, August 21, 2007 BCEC -- 261, Oral
Catalysis & Surface Science Secretariat |