Materials aspects of photoelectrochemical energy conversion

Photocatalytic decarboxylation of diacids for the initiation of free radical polymerization

Photopolymerization, which is one of the most attractive polymerization methods, has been recently studied for the development of new photoinitiators. Herein, we use a binary mixture of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles and carboxylic diacid as a novel photoinitiator to initiate the free radical polymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc). The polymerization of VAc is achieved both in aqueous medium and bulk. The initiation mechanism of TiO₂/diacids is studied via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy using ¹³C labeled diacids as probing molecules. Further, a universal reaction mechanism is established, where the polymerization of VAc is initiated by the HOOC-R˙ radical, which is generated from the photocatalytic decarboxylation of the diacid. The polymerization kinetics results indicate that the polymerization rate is strongly dependant on the diacid structure. Compared to the use of diacids with an odd number of carbons, it is found that using diacids with an even number of carbons results in the polymerization rate reaching the maximum value faster.

Electrospun BiOI nano/microtectonic plate-like structure synthesis and UV-light assisted photodegradation of ARS dye

Techtonic plate-like nano structures synthesized by electrospinning and were employed for photocatalytic degradation. The possible photodegradation has been explained based on the band edge position.

Solar Energy Conversion and Environmental Remediation Using Inorganic Semiconductor-Liquid Interfaces: The Road Traveled and the Way Forward

Unlike their solid-state counterparts, semiconductor-liquid junctions are versatile in that the incident solar energy can be stored in the form of chemical fuels. Another attractive application is the use of irradiated oxide semiconductor-coated surfaces for self-cleaning and antifogging. The theme of this history-tinged Guest Commentary centers on the question of what has been accomplished in the above "photoelectrochemical" schemes over the 35 year time frame from 1975 to 2010. Progress in this field was aided by the infusion of new concepts and contributions from the materials chemistry and physics communities. A related aspect of discussion is how the active semiconductor material has evolved both chemically and morphologically in these applications. It is shown that despite impressive research advances, only a handful of the above concepts (e.g., dye-sensitized solar photon conversion and self-cleaning and antifogging surfaces) have made the successful transition from the laboratory to the marketplace.

Surface Functionalization of Electrodes with Molecular Reagents

The use of molecular reagents to manipulate the properties of electrode surfaces has broad application in areas such as electrochemical synthesis, energy conversion and storage, displays, sensors, and new kinds of microelectronic devices. Surface modification of electrodes has contributed to a revival of interest in basic and applied research in electrochemistry and electrochemical devices. This article is focused on specific examples of systems modified electrodes where basic developments provide promising opportunities for applications stemming from the properties of molecules attached to an electrode surface.