CAREER: Electron-Transfer Kinetics of Individual Semiconductor Nanoparticles

内华达大学里诺分校化学系的Mario a . Alpuche-Aviles博士获得了美国国家科学基金会化学部大分子、超分子和纳米化学（MSN）项目的职业奖。正在进行的研究涉及纳米粒子电子转移反应，这在光催化中很重要，光催化是一种将光转化为化学能的过程。他们正在开发新的研究方法，这些方法有可能应用于设计基于溶液中半导体纳米颗粒光催化的更有效的能量转换方案。该项目的长期目标是了解半导体纳米颗粒的光催化性能与纳米颗粒大小和形状之间的相互依存关系。这些光催化性能将由半导体纳米粒子与直径为几微米或更小的电极之间的相互作用决定。工作包括：(1)测量单个纳米粒子的光电电子转移速率；(2)将纳米粒子的固有活性与纳米粒子的结构相关联；(3)建立胶体纳米粒子与工作电极相互作用的计算机模型。该方法的后续改进将包括研究那些因为与理想的光电化学反应竞争而阻碍效率的反应。Alpuche将鼓励学生考虑在科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）领域的职业，通过开发K-12水平的实践活动。这包括向内华达州的西班牙裔人口推广，在西班牙裔人口众多的K-12学校做演讲。

Dr. Mario A. Alpuche-Aviles of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Nevada, Reno, is supported by a Career Award from the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry (MSN) program in the NSF Division of Chemistry. The research being conducted involves nanoparticle electron transfer reactions that are of importance in photocatalysis, a process that enables conversion of light into chemical energy. New approaches to their study are being developed with potential application in the design of more efficient energy conversion schemes based on photocatalysis of semiconductor nanoparticles in solution. The long-term goal of the project is to understand the interdependence between photocatalytic properties of semiconductor nanoparticles and nanoparticle size and shape. These photocatalytic properties will be determined from interactions between semiconductor nanoparticles and electrodes with diameter of a few micrometers or less. The work includes (1) measuring photoelectrochemical electron transfer rates of individual nanoparticles; (2) correlating the intrinsic nanoparticle activity with nanoparticle structure; (3) developing computer models of the interactions between colloidal nanoparticles and the working electrode. Subsequent refinements of the methodology will include studies of reactions that hinder efficiency because they compete with the desired photoelectrochemical reactions for energy conversion.Dr. Alpuche will encourage students to consider careers in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields through the development of hands-on activities for K-12 level. This includes outreach to Hispanic population of Nevada with presentations at K-12 schools with large Hispanic populations.