2020 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Investigating the Energetics of Particulate Photocatalysts Co-loaded with Hydrogen- and Oxygen-Evolution Cocatalysts
| Project/Area Number |
20K22556
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| Research Institution | Chuo University |
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Principal Investigator |
潘 振華 中央大学, 理工学部, 助教 (90870551)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2020-09-11 – 2022-03-31
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| Keywords | Photocatalyst / Cocatalyst / Water splitting |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
A photocatalyst is mostly loaded with cocatalysts to facilitate its surface kinetics and improve its charge separation for water splitting. However, it is difficult to reconcile these positive effects, especially when a cocatalyst for H2 evolution and that for O2 evolution are co-loaded. Therefore, it is significant to understand the mutual interaction between two kind of cocatalysts . It is hypothesized that when two kinds of cocatalyst was coloaded, they will poison the surface catalysis, induce interfacial charge recombination or perturb the junction energetics for charge separation. Experiments based on electrochemical analyses and STEM-EDS/TEM characterizations reveal that the cocatalysts were not interfering with each other on surface catalysis or inducing interfacial recombination.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
Smooth parts:
1. The preparation of photocatalyst and the deposition of cocatalysts were well reproducible. Their activities were measured by a reliable system.
2. The electrochemistry has been well established for photocatalyst- and cocatalyst-based electrodes. For this reason, the effects of co-loading cocatalysts on surface catalysis were carefully studied.
3. The photocatalyst and cocatalyst were well characterization by STEM-EDS and TEM.
Not smooth parts:
1. The critical measurements based on SEC-AFM in U.S. was delayed for the pandemic. 2. The device simulation need more reliable optoelectronic parameters.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
In this year, this project will be focused on investigating the effects of co-loading cocatalysts on the photocatalyst/cocatalyst-junction energetics for charge separation. The details are listed below.
1. Prepare particle-based electrodes for SEC-AFM measurements. This kind of measurement has not been applied to particles with rough surfaces, so the resolution of the device in this circumstance is a potential issue.
2. Study the charge carrier dynamics of photocatalysts loaded with various cocatalyst. In the best case, the charge carrier dynamics will be studied in-situ.
3. Measure optoelectronic parameters of photocatalysts like the donor concentration and conduct detailed device simulation.
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| Causes of Carryover |
1. The SEC-AFM measurements in U.S. was delayed for the pandemic, so some budget was left to the next fiscal year.
2. The conference was online instead of on-site.
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