Metallo(4-aminophenyl)porphyrin Polymer Films on Si Microrod arrays for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution & New Solar Energy Experiments for Students at John Muir High School

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This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).The Division of Chemistry supports Michael Walter of California Institute of Technology (CalTech) as an American Competitiveness in Chemistry Fellow. Dr. Walter will investigate the preparation and characterization of metal treated aminophenylporphyrin films deposited onto silicon microrod arrays, which show promise as catalytic structures for solar water-splitting. Dr. Walter will work in collaboration with scientists at CalTech as well as at the Advanced Photon Source (APS) of Argonne National Laboratory. In his plan for broadening participation, Dr. Walter will work with chemistry teachers and students at John Muir High School in Pasadena, California. Specifically, he will develop a number of hands-on activities for students to teach them about solar energy and nanotechnology. Research like that of Dr. Walter is aimed at developing new materials for the conversion of solar energy to technologically useful fuels. The ultimate goal of research like this is to develop replacements for fossil fuels. The efforts at broadening participation being pursued by Dr. Walter are aimed at increasing the participation of young people from underrepresented groups in the sciences.