Publication Date

Spring 2022

Advisor(s) - Committee Chair

Lawrence Hill (Director), Mathew Nee, Bangbo Yan

Degree Program

Department of Chemistry

Degree Type

Master of Science

Abstract

The adverse effects associated with the utilization of fossil fuels has led to the need to provide an alternative cleaner energy. Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction via water splitting provides a renewable pathway to generating energy. Our photocatalyst system includes a semiconductor component (CdSe/CdS core/shell nanorods) to capture light and an attached metal (cocatalyst) for the hydrogen evolution reaction. Platinum is an effective metal catalyst for this reaction due to strong proton binding energy that easily facilitates the reduction of water to produce hydrogen gas. However, due to the high cost of platinum, there is a need to find a less expensive catalyst. Recent literature shows that Janus nickel/iron nanoparticles can be used as an electrode for production of hydrogen with similar results as platinum. Our research is focused on developing new synthetic methods to grow these Janus nickel/iron nanoparticles on an existing semiconductor nanoparticle to create a photocatalyst system. We will then compare these nickel/iron-functionalized nanoparticles with platinum-functionalized nanoparticles synthesized by similar methods.

Disciplines

Materials Chemistry | Organic Chemistry | Polymer Chemistry

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