Development of Hybrid Nanomaterials and Nanostructures for Plasmon-Enhanced Applications

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Efficient adoption of sustainable energy and realization of better environments are listed as major global challenges. Solar energy conversion to electricity is the most feasible approach to meet the ever increasing, urgent energy demand of humanity without adverse environmental impacts. On the other hand, effective removal of pollutants from waste water via solar photocatalysis is of significant environmental importance. Nonetheless, achieving low-cost, high-efficiency photovoltaic (PV) devices (which will allow their large scale implementation worldwide) and efficiently harvesting solar energy for photocatalysis remain very challenging. Nanomaterials (size scale: 1-100 nm) with their novel properties unique to matter of such dimensions are offering new ways to address pressing energy and environment issues. In particular, quantum dots (QDs) and catalytic nanostructures, hold high potential for PV and photocatalysis applications, respectively. On the other hand, plasmonic nanostructures (e.g. Au and 2) rationally design plasmonic nanostructures and realize plasmon/semiconductor-catalyst architectures in order to develop broadband (UV-to-NIR), high-efficiency photocatalysis systems and understand exact mechanism(s).The proposed research will lead to the development of new nanohybrids with excellent performance in PVs and photocatalysis and increase our knowledge on multiple aspects of plasmon enhanced PVs and photocatalysis. Not only can it pave the way to technological breakthroughs, it will also promote the training of highly qualified personnel to respond to the scientific and technological challenges of our modern society.