Programma: PRIN
Responsabile scientifico per il dipartimento: Federico Boscherini
Struttura principale: DIFA
Data inizio e data fine: dal 04/02/2024 al 04/02/2027
Fotocatalisi solare: materiali avanzati per l’efficienza energetica
Il progetto studia Cu₂O e α-Fe₂O₃ modificato con Ti per migliorare la fotosintesi artificiale, combinando deposizione avanzata, spettroscopia ultrarapida e analisi fotoelettrochimica.
Solar Photocatalysis: Advanced Materials for Energy Efficiency
The project investigates Cu₂O and Ti-modified α-Fe₂O₃ to enhance artificial photosynthesis, combining advanced deposition, ultrafast spectroscopy, and photoelectrochemical analysis.
Abstract
The project will conduct an experimental investigation of two key materials used in photoelectrocatalysis (Cu2O and Ti-modified α-Fe2O3), using a synergic approach involving advanced materials deposition, frontier studies of photo-excited charge dynamics in the time domain ranging from femtoseconds to nanoseconds, and sophisticated characterization of the photoelectrochemical function. The two materials will be fabricated in the form of model systems, such as films with variable thickness and with controlled and graded doping, nanoparticles (NPs) with selected size, and plasmonic-core@oxide shell NPs. The project aims at the understanding of fundamental processes induced by absorption of light in the afore-mentioned materials. This research is motivated by the impelling requirement of decarbonizing the global economy to revert global warming. In this context, the tools of condensed matter physics can play an extremely important role by shedding light on the fundamental processes triggered by photon absorption in photoanodes and photocathodes that result in oxidation and reduction processes at their surface. The ultimate goal is to realize artificial photosynthesis with high efficiency, thus making solar fuels an economically viable, sustainable and carbon neutral solution for solar energy conversion and storage. With a bottom – up approach and a portfolio of advanced characterization tools, the project will provide novel insight on the mechanism that govern the photoelectrocatalytic properties of the materials. The great progress in the development of free electron laser and higher harmonic generation sources offers new research opportunities, making it possible to study ultrafast charge carrier dynamics with atomic-site and spatial selectivity, a unique feature of core level spectroscopies. The knowledge gained, coupled with carefully controlled materials deposition techniques, will eventually lead to the optimization of solar absorption, for instance by plasmonic effects, and to the enhancement of catalytically active sites by tuning the porosity at the nanoscale.