Plasma-based immobilisation of novel non-precious metal photosensitizers for improved light harvest in photo(electro)catalytic water splitting

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The aim of this project is the development of novel and efficient semi-conductor-molecular sensitizer assemblies for photoelectrocatalytic water splitting. Non precious metal containing dyes will be anchored on semiconductors by specific modification of their surfaces to improve the efficiency of light harvest. The modification will be performed by plasma deposition of functionalized polymer coatings.More precisely, the intention of the joint application is to develop a solution for the regenerative hydrogen production by photocatalytic water splitting. For that purpose research teams from China and Germany will combine their expertises in the fields of synthesis of molecular catalysts, photocatalyst and photosensitizer development and plasma technology. For the water splitting photosensitizer-semiconductor assemblies will be developed. A focus lies on the synthesis of novel non-precious metal photosensitizers for an improved light harvest. These are molecular compounds, which consist of non-precious metal central atoms surrounded by nitrogen and phosphor containing ligands. The photosensitizers should show significantly higher light harvest efficiencies in the visible range of light than the semiconducting materials. The performance of these compounds, normally used for homogeneous catalysis, will be applied to improve the photocatalytic activity of heterogeneous catalysts. Therefore the surfaces of semiconductors, which originally show an inefficient adsorption in the visible range, will be modified with the above mentioned sensitizers. The interface between both components is an important factor for the efficiency of such assemblies. Plasma polymerized coatings will be utilized for anchoring the photosensitizer on the semiconductor surface and enabling the electron transport between them. Photosensitizer-semiconductor assemblies will be finally applied for hydrogen production in photoelectrocatalytical cells.The interdisciplinary aspect of the project will stimulate the communication between researchers of China and Germany working on photocatalytic water splitting. The cooperation offers a unique opportunity for training of researchers by using several months long stays abroad to accelerate the exchange of new scientific knowledge. Within the project especially young researchers will be trained. The special field of solar hydrogen production requires interdisciplinary thinking and acting. A sustainable research environment will be realized by an interdisciplinary cross border exchange of knowledge.