Study of electronic and structural properties of SrTiO3/Fe2TiO5, SrTiO3 BiVO4 and SrTiO3/CuWO4 junctions for the formation of tandem systems for hydrogen production from water and sunlight

Abstract

In this research proposal, the electronic, structural and morphological properties of SrTiO3, Fe2TiO5, BiVO4 and CuWO4 materials will be studied for the formation of SrTiO3/Fe2TiO5, SrTiO3/BiVO4 and SrTiO3/CuWO4 type Tandem junctions. SrTiO3 will be synthesized via a hydrothermal reaction, aiming to obtain nanocubes with flat faces and high surface area. The magnetron sputtering technique will be used for the deposition of Fe2TiO5, BiVO4 and CuWO4 nanoparticles on the surface of SrTiO3 nanocubes to form Tandem junctions. Tandem junctions of two semiconductors with "complementary" electronic properties have been considered a promising strategy to achieve high efficiency of the artificial photosynthesis reaction. Thus, this work plan for the Direct Doctoral candidate (DD) concentrates on the development of high activity photocatalytic Tandem junctions by means of a combination of two synthesis methods: hydrothermal synthesis and magnetron sputtering. The magnetron sputtering technique is a physical method which does not utilize reducing, surfactant or stabilizing agents, which is highly desired for the formation of Tandem junctions. In addition, candidate to DD will do detailed studies on the electronic properties of the materials for the construction of the band energy diagram and study of the photocatalytic activity for the generation of hydrogen via the reaction of artificial photosynthesis in a suspended system. (AU)