International Collaboration in Chemistry: Enhancing Direct Photoelectrochemical Conversion of Carbon Dioxide

加州理工大学的迈克尔·R·霍夫曼教授得到化学系分析和表面化学项目的支持，与圣安德鲁斯大学的约翰·T·欧文教授和阿伯丁罗伯特·戈登大学的彼得·K·J·罗伯逊教授共同开展国际合作研究。该项目的目的是研究作为电子受体的二氧化碳和有机电子供体组成的多组分体系的光电化学催化作用。将利用窄禁带和宽禁带金属硫化物作为半导体光电化学催化剂和有机胺作为电子给体进行初步研究。替代氧化物半导体催化剂和模拟废流也将同时进行探索。这项研究的最终目标是开发高效的催化转化，这些转化可能有助于将二氧化碳转化为有用的替代燃料和化学原料，并用于石油和生物废物的修复。该项目将使学生接触到国际研究经验，并将为他们提供与英国研究人员建立网络的机会。该项目由NSF和英国工程和物理科学研究理事会(EPSRC)联合支持。

"This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5)."Professor Michael R. Hoffmann of California Institute of Technology is supported by the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program in the Division of Chemistry to conduct research in an international collaboration with Professor John T. Irvine of St. Andrews University and Professor Peter K.J. Robertson of the Robert Gordon University of Aberdeen. The aim of the project is to investigate the photoelectrochemical catalysis of multicomponent systems comprising CO2, as an electron acceptor, and organic electron donors. Initial studies will be performed utilizing both narrow and wide band gap metal sulfides as semiconductor photoelectrochemical catalysts and organic amines as electron donors. Alternate oxide semiconductor catalysts and simulated waste streams will also be explored in parallel. The ultimate goal of this research is to develop efficient catalytic transformations that are potentially useful for conversion of CO2 to useful alternative fuel and chemical feedstock, and for the remediation of petroleum and bio wastes. This project will expose students to an international research experience and will provide them with opportunities to network with researchers in the United Kingdom. The project is supported jointly by the NSF and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council of the United Kingdom (EPSRC).