CAREER: Electron-Transfer Kinetics of Individual Semiconductor Nanoparticles

内华达大学雷诺分校化学系的Mario A.Alpuche-Aviles博士获得了美国国家科学基金会化学部高分子、超分子和纳米化学(MSN)项目颁发的职业奖。正在进行的研究涉及纳米粒子电子转移反应，这些反应在光催化中非常重要，光催化是一种将光转化为化学能的过程。正在开发研究它们的新方法，潜在地应用于设计基于半导体纳米颗粒在溶液中的光催化的更有效的能量转换方案。该项目的长期目标是了解半导体纳米颗粒的光催化性能与纳米颗粒大小和形状之间的相互依赖关系。这些光催化性能将通过半导体纳米颗粒与直径在几微米或更小的电极之间的相互作用来确定。这项工作包括(1)测量单个纳米粒子的光电化学电子转移速率；(2)将纳米粒子的本征活性与纳米粒子的结构相关联；(3)开发胶体纳米粒子与工作电极之间相互作用的计算机模型。该方法的后续改进将包括对阻碍效率的反应的研究，因为它们与所需的光电化学反应竞争能量转换。Alpuche将通过开展K-12级别的实践活动，鼓励学生考虑从事科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)领域的职业。这包括通过在有大量拉美裔人口的K-12学校演讲来扩大内华达州的拉美裔人口。

Dr. Mario A. Alpuche-Aviles of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Nevada, Reno, is supported by a Career Award from the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry (MSN) program in the NSF Division of Chemistry. The research being conducted involves nanoparticle electron transfer reactions that are of importance in photocatalysis, a process that enables conversion of light into chemical energy. New approaches to their study are being developed with potential application in the design of more efficient energy conversion schemes based on photocatalysis of semiconductor nanoparticles in solution. The long-term goal of the project is to understand the interdependence between photocatalytic properties of semiconductor nanoparticles and nanoparticle size and shape. These photocatalytic properties will be determined from interactions between semiconductor nanoparticles and electrodes with diameter of a few micrometers or less. The work includes (1) measuring photoelectrochemical electron transfer rates of individual nanoparticles; (2) correlating the intrinsic nanoparticle activity with nanoparticle structure; (3) developing computer models of the interactions between colloidal nanoparticles and the working electrode. Subsequent refinements of the methodology will include studies of reactions that hinder efficiency because they compete with the desired photoelectrochemical reactions for energy conversion.Dr. Alpuche will encourage students to consider careers in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields through the development of hands-on activities for K-12 level. This includes outreach to Hispanic population of Nevada with presentations at K-12 schools with large Hispanic populations.