DFG - Nanostructures for photo- and electrocatalysis
TiO2 and Ag@TiO2 nanostructures for photocatalysis and electrocatalysis. The influence of surface enhanced electric fields.
Funded by the DFG
Duration
Term: 01.01.2017 - 31.03.2020
Description
In this project, TiO2 nanostructures are developed that generate amplified electromagnetic fields on the TiO2 surface when exposed to light. This local light amplification will be used for the analysis of surface-bound molecules using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). On the other hand, the influence of the local light amplification, quantified by the SERS signal, on the photocatalytic efficiency of TiO2 is to be investigated. Different approaches for the optimization of field amplification are to be developed. In the first approach, the field amplification of pure TiO2 nanostructures is to be varied by different surface morphologies. In the second approach, local field enhancement is to be increased by the presence of plasmonic silver nanostructures. These silver nanostructures are first passivated with an inert coating and then arranged either above or below the TiO2 surface. As test molecules for the photocatalytic activity, the kinetics of the photodegradation of bisphenol and rhodamine B bound to TiO2 will be investigated. If possible, reaction intermediates will be detected spectroscopically. Furthermore, the (silver)-TiO2 systems are tested as carrier materials for electrocatalytic applications, especially for enzymes and molecular catalysts for O2 and H2O2 reduction. Due to the SERS reinforcement of the catalysts on the TiO2 surface, reaction intermediates should be detected during electrocatalysis.
