Development of plasmonic-semiconductor nano-assemblies for solar water splitting systems: more efficient and more cost effective

等离子体纳米结构具有独特的表面等离子体共振（SPR）特性，为解决能源和环境领域的许多紧迫问题提供了新的途径。与贵金属Au和Ag相比，cu基等离子体纳米结构的合成、SPR性能和应用受到的关注明显较少。这主要是由于铜容易氧化。然而，铜储量丰富，价格便宜得多，因此从长远来看，它更具可持续性和吸引力。通过水分解将太阳能转化为氢气，可以作为零排放汽车的清洁燃料，这是一个非常有前途的途径，可以满足我们迫切的能源需求，同时又不会对环境产生不利影响。与太阳能转换（通过太阳能电池）相比，它具有易于运输和分配的优点。尽管最近取得了很大进展，但太阳能水分解的商业应用仍然很少。在阳光下的低转换效率一直是一个主要障碍，这很大程度上是由于所涉及的半导体材料的吸收有限。本课题旨在开发稳定、富土的cu基等离子体纳米结构，深入研究其等离子体特性，并通过合理形成新的等离子体-半导体组件，推动其在等离子体增强H2生成中的应用，最大限度地发挥等离子体在延长和增强半导体光吸收方面的潜在有益作用。该项目将与世界领先的太阳能电池公司加拿大太阳能解决方案公司合作开展。这一创新方法将为其在纳米技术和太阳能燃料领域开辟新的机会，并在绿色能源方面取得突破具有很大潜力。除了可能的技术转移之外，该项目还将极大地促进HQP（3名博士和2名pdf）的培训，他们将获得工业和学术界高需求的多学科专业知识（纳米材料，等离子体，绿色能源等）。

With unique surface plasmon resonance (SPR), plasmonic nanostructures are offering new ways to address many pressing issues in energy and environment sectors. As compared to noble metals of Au and Ag, the synthesis, SPR properties and applications of Cu-based plasmonic nanostructures have received significantly less attention. It is largely due to the easy oxidation of Cu. Nevertheless, Cu is earth abundant and much cheaper, so in the long term it is more sustainable and attractive. The conversion of solar energy into H2, which can serve as a clean fuel for zero-emission vehicles, by water splitting represents a very promising avenue for meeting our urgent energy demand without adverse environmental impacts. As compared to solar-to-electricity conversion (by solar cells), it has advantages of easy transport and distribution. Although much progress has been done recently, commercial applications of solar water splitting remain scarce. Low conversion efficiency under sunlight has been a major obstacle, which is largely due to limited absorption of involved semiconductor materials. This proposal aims to develop stable, earth abundant Cu-based plasmonic nanostructures, to investigate in depth their plasmonic properties and to push forward their applications in plasmon enhanced H2 generation by rationally forming new plasmon-semiconductor assemblies to maximize the potential beneficial effects of plasmons in extending and strengthening light absorption of semiconductors. This project will be carried out in collaboration with Canadian Solar Solutions Inc., a world's leading solar cell company. The proposed innovative approach will open up new opportunities for it in the fields of nanotechnology and solar fuel and also hold high potential to lead to breakthroughs in green energy. In addition to leading to possible technology transfer, the project will greatly contribute to the training of HQP (3 PhDs & 2 PDFs), who will acquire multidisciplinary expertise (in nanomaterials, plasmonics, green energy, etc.) that is in high demand in industry and academia.