The development (=novel materials’ conceptualization, synthesis, optimization) of nanoheterostructures assembled in a Z scheme optimized for Artificial Photosynthesis
Process engineering of Flame Spray Pyrolysis (FSP) technology to develop the materials in a Z-scheme architecture in a single step. Our Z-NanoHeterostructures consist of a 3-nanocatalyst architecture: (i) [H2O Oxidizing Catalyst (WOC) for production of H2], (ii) a [CO2 Reducing Catalyst (CRC) for the CO2-reduction], (iii) metal plasmonic nanoparticles attached to the CRC, to finely tune the e-shuttle from the CRC to CO2.
A library of Z-structures was created, based on a fast-screening methodology, using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy as state-of-the-art tool to monitor the electrontransfer to CO2 (i.e. formation of CO2-radicals as an initiation key step).
The eligible materials thoroughly evaluated/optimized for the photocatalytic H2O/CO2 conversion to HCOOH/MeOH (i.e. “Artificial Photosynthesis”). Gas chromatography and Liquid chromatography analytical methods are used to monitor all gas-phase and liquid-phase adducts. In addition electrophotocatalytic evaluation is being carried out.
