Development of structurally controlled porous metal oxide nanoarchitectures of photoanode for efficient solar-driven water splitting

• Project/Area Number: 24K08579
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 36020:Energy-related chemistry
• Research Institution: Niigata University
• Principal Investigator: Chandra Debraj 新潟大学, 自然科学系, 特任准教授 (00609844)
• Project Period (FY): 2024-04-01 – 2027-03-31
• Project Status: Granted (Fiscal Year 2024)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,680,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,080,000); Fiscal Year 2026: ¥650,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥150,000); Fiscal Year 2025: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000); Fiscal Year 2024: ¥2,210,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥510,000)
• Keywords: Nanomaterials / Energy Conversion

Outline of Research at the Start

1) Development of nanoarchitectures of photoanode that provide large surface area, shorter carrier diffusion length, efficient charge separation and smooth electron transport.
2) Visible-light-responsive photoanode materials (BiVO4, Fe2O3, WO3) will be focused and PEC activity will be improved by further nanostructural engineering through multi-junction creation, applying co-catalysts (FeNiOx, IrOx) and active facets control.
3) Create state-of-the-art photoanode for water oxidation, those can provide 60-80% of the theoretical limit of the photocurrent density and afford high stability.