Supported nanoalloys for sustainable hydrogen production

该项目设想创建一种整体方法，将各种用途的含金属材料的可持续制造联系在一起，重点放在被视为“明天的石油”的光催化氢气生产上。我们的目标是通过用更丰富的元素(如镍的铂)来取代稀有金属，或者通过金属纳米合金(MNA)科学的创新，将稀有金属的使用量减少到绝对所需的最低限度，从而极大地减少氢技术中对稀有金属的依赖。为了实现这一变革性的变化，我们将开辟新的科学领域，方法是：(I)提供可扩展的路线，利用诺丁汉的磁控溅射设备制造具有原子精确结构和组成的MNA；(Ii)通过近环境XPS研究在原位条件下(光和水蒸气)产生的材料的光学和电子性质；(Iii)利用MNC在利用太阳光光催化制氢中的功能特性。交付成果：-基于具有原子精确尺寸和组成的负载型MNA(例如，铂和镍、钴或铜双金属纳米合金)制造新型多相光催化剂。-原子层面上对非原位和原位条件下的MNA表面动力学的了解。-用于光催化制氢的高效材料(例如JM)，因为材料合成很容易扩大规模，因此有可能引起业界的关注。

This project is envisaged to create a holistic approach linking together sustainable fabrication of metal containing materials for a range of applications, focussing on photocatalytic hydrogen generation considered the "oil of tomorrow". Our ambition is to dramatically reduce the dependency on rare metals in hydrogen technology, either by replacing them with more abundant elements (e.g. Pt for Ni) or by reducing their use to the absolute minimum required, through the innovation in the science of metal nanoalloys (MNA). To achieve this transformative change, we will open up new areas of science by (i) providing scalable routes to MNA fabrication with atomically precise structure and composition using the magnetron sputtering facilities in Nottingham (ii) investigating the optical and electronic properties of the materials produced under in situ conditions (light and water vapour) via Near-Ambient XPS (iii) harnessing functional properties of MNC in the photocatalytic production of hydrogen using sunlight.Deliverables:-Fabrication of novel heterogeneous photocatalysts based on supported MNAs with atomically precise size and composition (e.g., Pt & Ni, Co, or Cu bimetallic nanoalloys). -Atomic-level understanding of the MNA surface dynamics under ex-situ and in-situ conditions. -Highly efficient materials for photocatalytic hydrogen production with potential to attract industry attention (e.g., JM) as materials synthesis is easy to scale up.