PETR 29 |
| Photoactive hybrid nanostructures with tailored light harvesting properties have been designed using semiconductor nanoparticles, metal nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes. One application of these materials is in the area of solar hydrogen production. The photoactive semiconductor nanoparticles (TiO2, ZnO) when dispersed on conducting scaffold of SWCNT exhibit improved photoconversion efficiency (IPCE) as the carbon network facilitates charge collection and charge transport in semiconductor nanostructures. The photoelectrochemical cells when operated in an electrolysis mode can generate hydrogen from aqueous electrolyte. In addition we have also prepared TiO2 nanotube array using the method of controlled electrochemical corrosion. The photoresponse of TiO2 nanoarray can also be extended into the visible by attaching CdSe quantum dots. These composite semiconductor nanostructures have been successfully employed in photoelectrochemical cells for generating photocurrent under visible light excitation. The salient features of nanowire/nanotube architecture in improving the efficiency of light harvesting assemblies will be discussed. |
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2nd Symposium on Hydrogen from Renewable Sources and Refinery Applications
1:00 PM-5:00 PM, Sunday, April 6, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Rm. 222, Oral
Division of Petroleum Chemistry |