Design of Nanostructured Materials for Water Splitting
Final Report Abstract
The main goal of this research study was the design of shape controlled nanocrystals and semiconductor materials for solar energy conversion and to explore how the type, size and shape of nanocrystals influence catalytic activity in the water splitting. A systematic study on preparation of manganese oxide, cobalt oxide, titanium oxide, and sodium tantalum oxide based materials with various crystal structure and shapes was carried out. Novel synthetic routes were developed for the fabrication of Na2Ta2O6 and TiO2 semiconductor nanocrystals that can be extend to create other type of materials. Among these crystals ordered mesoporous Co3O4 nanostructure with higher surface area showed promising catalytic activity as anode materials for electrochemical water splitting, while novel Na2Ta2O6 nanocrystals indicates activity for over all water splitting without any co-catalyst under light illumination.
Publications
- Templated Synthesis of Shape Controlled Ordered TiO2Cage Structures, Small, 2011, 7, 2037
Y. Deng, H. Tüysüz,, J. Henzie, P. D. Yang
