SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF PHOTOCATALYTIC HYBRID NANOMATERIALS FOR HYDROGEN PRODUCTION FROM WATER SPLITTING

Work package:
Carbon nanomaterials are used in many fields [1] due to their chemical stability and outstanding physico-chemical properties. They are available in various dimensions from 0D, 1D, and 2D morphologies. These nanomaterials may be implemented as photocatalysts for the splitting of water or as materials for energy storage, mainly hydrogen storage. A proper photocatalyst should have a band gap in the visible region with minimum recombination of charges and high stability. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is one such materials. However, in the bulk phase, the recombination of photogenerated carriers is high. Optimizing the size and forming hybrids with CNTs reduces the recombination rate of photogenerated carriers. [2, 3] The aim of this project is to focus on the simple synthesis of hybrids of 1D and 2D carbon nanomaterials (carbon nanotubes, graphene) for their application as photocatalysts for water-splitting reactions. A simple in situ synthesis, especially of the CNTs:g-C3N4 hybrids, will be mainly targeted following promising preliminary results obtained by simple mixing [3]. Characterization techniques such as powder XRD, Raman and UV spectroscopy, TGA, SEM, and TEM will be used for the characterization of the hybrid nanomaterials. Photocalytic activity for H2 production will be measured within the framework of an international collaboration (University of Szczecin in Poland). The project is at the interface between (nano)materials science and chemistry.