1. Topic ID: 0302
  2. Research topic: From inertness to activity - semiconductor heterostructures for visible light
  3. Supervisor: dr hab. inż. Anita Trenczek-Zając
  4. Supervisor’s email address: anita.trenczek-zajac@agh.edu.pl
  5. Abstract: The foundation of environmentally friendly light-activated redox processes is heterogeneous photocatalysis, associated with the elimination of the adverse effects of human activities. Some of the methods used in this area require photoactive semiconductors. Examples include photocatalytic degradation of organic compounds that pollute water and photoelectrochemical splitting of water in the process of converting solar energy into chemical energy. The numerous requirements for potential candidates for photoactive materials are not easily met by a single semiconductor. Therefore, the scientific scope of this project focuses on the obtaining of hybrid structures composed of wide- and narrow-band semiconductors with engineered electronic structure, microstructure, and the mechanism of charge carrier transfer in photo(electro)catalytic reactions. Materials with enhanced properties will be designed for potential application in the environmentally friendly fields of photocatalytic (PCat) and photoelectrocatalytic (PECat) neutralization of organic pollutants and water splitting in photoelectrochemical cells (PECs), which allow the conversion of solar energy into the chemical energy of hydrogen. The appropriate choice of the chemical composition and electronic properties will make it possible to significantly improve light absorption of hybrid structures for visible-light-sensitive photocatalysts.
  6. Research facilities: The PhD student will have access to the following equipment: X-ray diffractometer; confocal Raman microscopy; spectrofluorometer; transmission electron microscope; frequency response analyzer; scanning electron microscope with EDX; Kelvin probe; setup for photocatalytical, photoelectrocatalytic, and photoelectrochemical experiments; UV-VIS-NIR spectrophotometer; gas chromatograph; apparatus for specific surface area SSA determination, for particle size distribution using DLS technique, for measurements of electrokinetic parameters.
  7. Funding source: Subsidy