Electrochemistry and Photoprocesses at Semiconductors

这项研究项目得到了分析和表面化学计划的支持，重点是半导体的电化学和光电化学过程。在这项为期三年的持续资助期间，Bard教授和他在奥斯汀的德克萨斯大学的学生将开展一项广泛的实验计划，包括四个主要任务：(1)使用扫描探针显微镜调查半导体/液体界面；(2)研究半导体纳米粒子，即所谓的“Q-粒子”，以及导电衬底上的Q-粒子薄膜；(3)识别和评估新材料，以及将二氧化钛修饰为更高效的光催化剂；以及(4)以覆盖绝缘薄膜的导电电极为模型对绝缘体的电极过程进行基础研究。这项研究建立在美国国家科学基金会资助CHE-9119851的基础上，旨在更好地了解半导体/液体界面，并提高具有重要技术意义的半导体光处理的效率。半导体表面的光电化学对于在生产有用的化学品或销毁化学废物等应用中有效利用太阳能至关重要。这项研究的目的是提高我们对半导体/液体界面的暗过程和光过程的理解，并利用这些知识改进具有重要技术意义的光电化学系统和器件的设计。

This research project, supported in the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program, is focussed on electrochemical and photoelectrochemical processes at semiconductors. During the tenure of this three-year continuing grant, Professor Bard and his students at the University of Texas at Austin will pursue a broad experimental program having four primary thrusts: (1) investigations od semiconductor/liquid interfaces using scanning probe microscopies; (2) studies of semiconductor nanoparticles, known as "Q-particles," and thin films of Q-particles on conducting substrates; (3) the identification and evaluation of new materials and the modification of titanium dioxide as more efficient photocatalysts; and (4) fundamental investigations of mechanisms of electrode processes at insulators modeled by conducting electrodes covered with insulating thin films. This research, which builds upon results obtained under the aegis of NSF grant CHE-9119851, seeks to provide a better understanding of the semiconductor/liquid interface and to improve the efficiency of technologically important semiconductor photoprocesses. Photoelectrochemistry at semiconductor surfaces is vital to the effective utilization of solar energy in applications such as the production of useful chemicals or the destruction of chemical wastes. This research is aimed at improving our understanding of both dark and photoprocesses at semiconductor/liquid interfaces and the utilization of that knowledge in the improved design of technoloeically important photoelectrochemical systems and devices.