Project Details
Projekt Print View

Interfacial engineering of semiconductors for highly selective light-driven chemical transformations

Subject Area Physical Chemistry of Solids and Surfaces, Material Characterisation
Term from 2020 to 2022
Project identifier Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 428764269
 
Final Report Year 2024

Final Report Abstract

Heterogeneous photo(electro)catalysis is a potentially powerful method for driving useful redox chemical transformations using sunlight or low-cost light sources (e.g., LEDs) under mild conditions: at ambient pressure and temperature, and utilizing ubiquitous and sustainable reagents such as water or aerial oxygen. The use of heterogeneous photo(electro)catalysis for synthetic purposes is particularly attractive, as it offers the potential for commercially viable applications on a shorter time scale compared to, for example, light-driven hydrogen production. However, functional photo(electro)catalytic systems for highly selective conversions are still scarce, and the factors governing selectivity in heterogeneous photocatalysis are not well understood, especially when compared to more conventional catalytic processes like thermal catalysis or electrocatalysis. Addressing these challenges, the following key advancements were achieved in this project: i) the hypothesis that interfacial energetics govern the distinct selectivity trends in electrocatalytic versus photoelectrocatalytic conversions was experimentally corroborated for two different photoelectrocatalytic systems; ii) conceptually novel photocatalytic and photoelectrocatalytic systems for selective synthesis of hydrogen peroxide from oxygen were developed; iii) novel photoanodes for selective alcohol oxidation based on ionic carbon nitride were developed, and their unprecedented photoelectrochemical (bias-free photoreforming of alcohols) and photophysical (fast charge extraction and photodoping) properties were identified. The project results establish new examples of photo(electro)catalytic systems for highly selective lightdriven chemical conversions and represent significant advancements in our understanding of fundamental aspects of selectivity in heterogeneous photocatalysis.

Publications

 
 

Additional Information

Textvergrößerung und Kontrastanpassung