Nanowire-Nanoparticle Conjugate Photolytic Fuel Generators
The present invention claims novel physical mechanisms, structural architecture and fabrication technique for the realization of a novel fuel-generating photolytic device. This device consists of a low band gap oxide semiconductor nanowire decorated with metal nanoparticles.
Low-cost, high photolytic conversion energy and stability by making use of multifunctional nanostructures with unique electronic, photonic, and plasmonic attributes at the nanoscale.Plasmonic metal nanoparticles decorating the nanowire serve as near-filed concentrators enhancing absorption of light in the semiconductor nanowire.The plasmonic nanoparticles also couple the incident radiation to the waveguide modes of the nanowires in the direction of the wire axis, maximising optical absorption.A further role of the nanoparticles is in separation of electron/hole pair. They collect the photogenerated electrons efficiently by virtue of their being a high work function metal before channeling them to the reduction reaction. This aspect differs from having a counter metal electrode (cathode) in a bulk phtolytic cell, where a semicinductor/cathode interface is absent.Low-cost and scalable technology, simply by fabricating and utilizing the nanowire-nanoparticle conjugate devices in the form of a suspension (e.g., in water) using solution chemistry.
Fabrication of novel fuel-generating (e.g. hydrogen) photolytic devices consisting of low band gap oxide semiconductor nanowires decorated with metal nanoparticles.
BackgroundConversion of sunlight to chemical fuels by artificial photosynthesis has been a long-sought goal. In particular, significant research activity was stimulated towards photolytic cells prod
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