Dye-sensitized semiconductor photoelectrochemical cells for overall water splitting

Seung Hyun Anna Lee, W. Justin Youngblood, Landy K. Blasdel, Thomas E. Mallouk, Thomas Moore, Ana Moore, Devens Gust

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Photocatalytic water splitting has been one of the grand challenges of chemical research. Since the first discovery of photoassisted water electrolysis using ultraviolet light in 1972, there have been many reports on oxide photocatalysts. However, there has been little progress on molecule-oxide water splitting systems. These photosensitizers can act as visible light absorber and linker to couple photocatalytic nanoparticles and the semiconductor films to build an organic-inorganic hybrid photocatalytic water splitting system. We recently reported that IrO 2nH 2O (1-3 nm diameter) nanoparticles can be stabilized by Ru-tris(bipyridyl) complexes and studied their performance as oxygen evolving photocatalysts . These results inspired us to construct an overall water splitting dye-sensitized cell. The quantum efficiency of the system is quite low (0.8%) due to rapid back electron transfer from TiO 2 to the oxidized sensitizer. We are currently exploring different buffers and investigating composite metal oxide films for a more efficient water splitting system.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationACS National Meeting Book of Abstracts
StatePublished - 2010
Event239th ACS National Meeting and Exposition - San Francisco, CA, United States
Duration: Mar 21 2010Mar 25 2010

Other

Other239th ACS National Meeting and Exposition
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Francisco, CA
Period3/21/103/25/10

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Chemical Engineering

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