Surface-Enhanced Solar Energy Conversion System for Advancing Alternative Energy

阿拉巴马大学的教授Shanlin Pan和Arunava Gupta获得了化学催化项目化学部的这一奖项，他们将研究表面增强太阳能转换系统，以促进替代能源的发展。明确的金属纳米结构等离子体天线周围的强电磁场将增强可见光活性光催化剂的光吸收截面，用于光电化学水分解和其他光电化学反应。利用先进的光化学、光谱学和显微技术，如超快瞬态吸收光谱、光电化学微电极和微电极，研究表面增强型光催化剂附近的界面电荷转移动力学和局部光电化学。综合研究计划包括以下组成部分：纳米结构制造，结构表征，光电化学和光谱电化学研究，以及理论建模。这项工作汇集了一个多学科团队，将在与可再生能源相关的研究中为科学知识，教育推广和基础设施做出重大贡献，这是国家优先考虑的领域。该项目的科学成果将包括在制造新型纳米结构光催化剂方面的进展，以及对其光电化学和材料特性的基本理解。研究结果对提高可见光活性光催化剂制氢的水分解效率和混合有机光伏器件的功率效率具有重要意义。这些pi将与阿拉巴马州动态科学计划（ASIM）合作，为阿拉巴马州中西部的高中少数族裔和代表性不足的学生和教师制定清洁能源教育计划。拟议的项目将为研究生和本科生提供支助，包括代表性不足的少数民族，这将有助于他们接受广泛的跨学科培训。拟议项目的一个重要方面是在专题研究领域提供实践经验的能力。项目人员将在与拟议的研究有关的几项正在进行的教育和外联活动中发挥关键作用。这些措施包括与当地学校合作，促进高中生参与研究、公众参观和示范。

With this award from the Chemical Catalysis Program of the Chemistry Division Professors Shanlin Pan and Arunava Gupta of the University of Alabama will investigate surface-enhanced solar energy conversion systems for advancing alternative energy. Intense electromagnetic field around plasmonic antenna of well-defined metallic nanostructures will be utilized to enhance the light absorption cross-section of visible-light-active photocatalysts for photoelectrochemical water splitting and other photoelectrochemical reactions. Advanced photoelectrochemical, spectroscopic and microscopic tools, such as ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy, photoelectrochemcial microelectrode, and microelectrode, will be used to probe the interfacial charge transfer dynamics and local photoelectrochemistry near the surface-enhanced photocatalysts. The comprehensive research program includes the following components: nanostructure fabrication, structural characterization, photoelectrochemical and spectroelectrochemical studies, and theoretical modeling.The work brings together a multidisciplinary team that will make significant contributions to scientific knowledge, education outreach and infrastructure in a study related to renewable energy, which is an area of top priority for the nation. The scientific outcomes of the project will include both advances in the fabrication of a new class of nanostructured photocatalysts and fundamental understanding of their photoelectrochemical and materials characteristics. Results from the work are relevant both for improving the water splitting efficiency of visible-light-active photocatalysts to produce hydrogen and power efficiency of hybrid organic photovoltaic devices. The PIs will collaborate with the Alabama Science in Motion (ASIM) Program to develop a clean energy education program for high school minority and underrepresented students and teachers in west central Alabama. The proposed project will provide support for graduate and undergraduate students, including underrepresented minorities, which will contribute to their broad interdisciplinary training. An important aspect of the proposed project is the capacity to provide hands on experience in topical research areas. Project personnel will play a key role in several ongoing education and outreach activities related to the proposed research. These include collaboration with local schools to facilitate participation by high school students in research, public tours and demonstrations.