Doped-nanocrystal/graphene hybrid structure for noble metal-free photocatalytic hydrogen production

用于无贵金属光催化制氢的掺杂纳米晶体/石墨烯杂化结构

• 批准号: 1264840
• 负责人: Dong Son
• 金额: $ 34万
• 依托单位: Texas A&M University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-08-01 至 2016-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1264840&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Doped; nanocrystal; graphene; hybrid; structure

In typical semiconductor-based photocatalysis to produce hydrogen, noble metal co-catalysts, typically Pt or Pd, are often used to enhance the efficiency of charge carrier separation and transfer that are essential for the function of catalyst. This noble metal component makes the economics of the overall system untenable. Many approaches have been investigated to reduce the dependence on noble metals. In this award from the National Science Foundation Catalysis & Biocatalysis Program, Profs. Dong Hee Son and Hae-Kwon Jeong of Texas A&M University propose a new and more economical strategy based on unique material combinations and properties. The proposed research aims to greatly enhance hydrogen production efficiency of semiconductor-based photocatalysts by exploring the synergistic effect of transition metal doping of the semiconductor catalyst combined with the formation of a hybrid structure with reduced graphene oxide (RGO). The role played by the costly noble metal co-catalyst will be replaced by abundant transition metal dopant ions (e.g., Mn or Cu), which were recently shown to extend the electron lifetime in semiconductors and thus enhancing the efficiency of charge separation and transfer. The combination of the doped nanocrystals with RGO offers the advantage of a more efficient photocatalytic reduction reaction, facilitated by the RGO functioning as the large-area electrode. The investigative team will develop the correlation of the structure of nanocrystal/RGO hybrid photocatalysts with the efficiencies of key steps of photocatalytic reduction (i.e., charge separation, charge transfer) and the overall hydrogen production efficiency, leading to an optimized structure of the catalyst for hydrogen production.The educational component of the proposed research will focus on the development of experiments for undergraduate research as a part of training the participants in a NSF-REU program and in undergraduate research classes. These experiences will lead to the development of a transportable experiment kit that will be used on site at local high schools, with training of local high school teachers through a RET Program. This will be designed as a new component of the university-wide outreach effort, exploiting the dissemination mechanisms that are already in place at Texas A&M.

在典型的半导体光催化中以产生氢，通常使用PT或PD的高贵金属共催化剂，通常用于提高电荷载体分离和转移的效率，这对于催化剂的功能至关重要。这种高贵的金属组件使整体系统的经济学无法实现。已经研究了许多方法，以减少对贵金属的依赖。 在国家科学基金会催化与生物催化计划的奖项中，教授。得克萨斯州农工大学的Dong Hee儿子和Hae-Kwon Jeong提出了一种基于独特的材料组合和财产的新的，更经济的战略。拟议的研究旨在通过探索半导体催化剂的过渡金属掺杂的协同作用，并结合形成杂种结构，并形成与氧化石墨烯（RGO）的杂化结构的形成，从而极大地提高了基于半导体的光催化剂的氢产生效率。 昂贵的高贵金属共催化剂的作用将被丰富的过渡金属掺杂剂离子（例如Mn或Cu）取代，最近证明它们可以在半导体中延长电子寿命，从而提高了电荷分离和转移的效率。 掺杂的纳米晶体与RGO的组合提供了更有效的光催化还原反应的优势，这是由RGO作为大面积电极作用的促进的。调查团队将发展纳米晶/RGO杂交光催化剂的结构与光催化降低的关键步骤的效率（即电荷分离，电荷，电荷转移）和整体氢生产效率，从而导致氢的催化剂的优化结构将涉及液体的催化剂的优化结构。参加NSF-REU计划和本科研究班的参与者。这些经验将导致开发可运输的实验套件，该套件将在当地高中现场使用，并通过RET计划培训当地高中教师。这将被设计为大学范围内的外展工作的新组成部分，利用德克萨斯州A＆M已经有了传播机制。