Projects / Programmes
Nanostructured inorganic photocatalysts for solar water spliting
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.04.01 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Materials science and technology |
Inorganic nonmetallic materials |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| P360 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Inorganic chemistry |
inorganic photocatalysts, solar water splitting, hydrogen production
Researchers (1)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
23603 |
PhD Urša Pirnat |
Materials science and technology |
Head |
2010 - 2011 |
0 |
Organisations (1)
| no. |
Code |
Research organisation |
City |
Registration number |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
1540 |
University of Nova Gorica |
Nova Gorica |
5920884000 |
0 |
Abstract
The Hydrogen Economy without environmental hazards and negative climate impact will be established only when hydrogen will be produced from renewable energy sources not using fossil fuel. The cleanest production of hydrogen makes use of the most abundant energy - solar energy. One of the most promising ways of renewable hydrogen production is water splitting by sunlight using principles of a heterogeneous photocatalysis.
Given that theoretical calculations predict quantum efficiency of 16 % the industrial scale of such system is not likly, prior the new catalyst have to be devoleped.
The main aim of the project is to develop a new type of inorganic catalysts for photochemical splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen. Such photocatalyst will be characterized by a quantum efficiency, which will be improved to a level that will allow its application in the solar hydrogen generation technology. The research will focus on robust, efficient, reliable, cost-effective and stable photo-electrochemical system for water splitting using only sunlight as the energy input. The most straightforward approach towards solar water splitting and potentially very attractive route is by dispersing a photo-catalyst powder in water.
Our strategy to improve the efficiency of overall water splitting by photocatalysis will be to synthesize nano-size semiconductor particles. The project will focus on Bi-rich compounds of tantalates, niobates, chromates and cuprates with fluorite crystal structure. These compounds have never been produced in the form of nanopowders so far neither investigated as photocatalysts. Importantly, these materials are found to be highly stable material resistant to oxidation. From unique electronic structure photoactivity is expected.
For successful outcome of the project and realization of the project goals the following research modules will be undertaken:
(1) Synthesis of nano-particle by nanotechnologal techniques such as polymerizable complex, hydrothermal, reverse micelle method, coprecitation, sol-gel etc
(2) Optimization of synthetical methods including all the parameters of the synthesis that, are determining the structural, physical, morphological properties and electronic structure, e.g. quantum confinements and electron tunneling
(3) Improvement of visible light response
(4) Studies of doping effects on electronic structure and conductivity
(5) Application of cocatalyst and modification of the surface morphology to obtain selectively active sites for reduction of water in hydrogen and oxidation in oxygen
(6) Studies of surface dependent electrochemical properties and their influence on photoactivity:
(7) Optimization of co-catalysis and doping
The approach for the processing of new nanomaterials that was selected for this project represents one of the most advanced techniques, which reduces an environmental impact and increases energy and cost efficiency compared to the existing technologies. The planned studies of materials that will be performed here will involve up-to-date analytical methods available in our laboratory and with our research partners. Such an approach will give us an unique insight in the processes that are occurring during the photocatalysis in the material and on its surface and, consequently, very good prospects for a successful development of new photocatalytic materials for water splitting.
Significance for science
The scientific and technological objectives of the proposed project are highly challenging. The impact of the proposed research on the science and scientific community will be high. It has the potential to produce ground-breaking results and new knowledge in the field of photo catalysis for solar splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen. Thus, the photocatalysts represent very promising group of materials by which the energy efficient solar splitting of water would be achieved.
The new important scientific results can be expected from:
- development of new types of materials and their application in photocatalytic process
- studies of the structural, electronic and photocatalytic charcteristics of new photocatalysts
- synthesis of nano-powders with controlled morphology
- understanding an influence of morphology, composition, polymorph characteristic and particle size on photocatalytic activity
- understanding of the photo-catalytic processes on the surface of the catalyst
- understanding of the role of cation dopant and cocatalyst on photocatalytic activity
Finally, it is believed that the photocatalysts and the photocatalytic process with characteristics that are superior to today’s systems will be produced. This would be technologically very important but would also represent an important scientific achievement.
An active scientific communication is foreseen to be established, which will give basis for a proper idea an expertise exchange on the field of photocatalysis. This will bring into the proposed programme a new synergy with other groups around the world, which are intensively involved in this topic.
We expect that scientific achievements will lead to important publications in high impact factor scientific and technology journals, and, so, disseminate the produced results and demonstrate the quality of the research.
Significance for the country
For the progress of Slovenia the project is important due to several reasons:
(i) the synthesis of new photo-catalytically material, that would be novelty at the market.
(ii) All technological methods, which we use, would when completely optimized could present a huge opportunity to go ahead with production.
(iii) The project is important because of energetical and ecological reasons with high impact. Is fact that Slovenia need to import oil and coal therefore is of key importance to start with introduction of different kinds of technologies, which would be based completely on removable sources. Within this segment this project completely fits into the development of Slovenia.
(iv) Education of students and spreading out the knowledge that we are getting within this project is important for employees of University. We organize different kinds of lectures for students and we are organizers of scientifical conference of which purpose is interaction between students, industry and research scientists.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2010
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2010
