Nanocarbon-inorganic hybrid materials for photocatalytic applications

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Dominik Eder
• Subject Area: Solid State and Surface Chemistry, Material Synthesis
• Term: from 2014 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 259016296

Nanocarbon-inorganic hybrids are a new class of nanocomposites with great potential for applications concerning sustainable energy and the environment.The benefits of these hybrids origin from interfacial charge and heat transfer processes, which lead to enhanced and even new properties.This project aims to design and synthesize new CNT/graphene hybrids with metal oxides and metal (oxy)nitrides using wet-chemical techniques as well as atomic layer deposition. These hybrids will be implemented in complete photocatalytic systems involving suitable co-catalysts and then evaluated for both, photocatalytic oxidation reactions (i.e. water purification) as well as reduction reactions (i.e. hydrogen production from water splitting). A second focus will be the detailed investigation of the interface, which will be modified with various linking agents, polymers and dielectric barrier layers. The charge transfer processes will be investigated by transient spectroscopy and puls radiolysis. This project will provide valuable information towards the designing of next-generation photocatalysts for environment and energy applications and thus creating noticeable benefits for society.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Austria