Semiconductor Solar Photocatalysts

Provides a timely overview of basic principles and significant advances of semiconductor-based photocatalysts for solar energy conversion Semiconductor Solar Photocatalysts: Fundamentals and Applications presents a systematic, in-depth summary of both fundamental and cutting-edge research in novel photocatalytic systems. Focusing on photocatalysts with vast potential for efficient utilization of solar energy, this up-to-date volume covers heterojunction systems, graphene-based photocatalysts, organic semiconductor photocatalysts, metal sulfide semiconductor photocatalysts, and graphitic carbon nitride-based photocatalysts. Organized into six chapters, the text opens with a detailed introduction to the history, design principles, modification strategies, and performance evaluation methods of solar energy photocatalysis. The remaining chapters provide detailed discussion of various novel photocatalytic systems such as direct Z-scheme and S-scheme photocatalysts, organic polymers, and covalent organic frameworks. This authoritative resource: Explains the essential concepts of solar energy photocatalysis and heterojunction systems for photocatalysis Reviews interesting structures and new applications of semiconductor photocatalysts Features contributions from an international panel of leading researchers in the field Includes extensive references and numerous tables, figures, and color illustrations Semiconductor Solar Photocatalysts: Fundamentals and Applications is valuable resource for all catalytic chemists, materials scientists, inorganic and physical chemists, chemical engineers, and physicists working in the semiconductor industry.

Heterostructured Photocatalysts for Solar Energy Conversion provides a comprehensive description of novel z-scheme hybrid materials based on metal oxide or chalcogenides-based semiconductor, or carbon-based nanomaterials (conducting polymers, graphene, and other carbon materials). The book explores energy conversion applications, such as hydrogen generation, water splitting, CO2 reduction or degradation of organic pollutants, and their associated new material and technology development. The book addresses a variety of topics, such as photochemical processes, materials and fabrication, degradation mechanisms, as well as challenges and strategies. The book includes in-depth discussions ranging from comprehensive understanding, to engineering of materials and applied devices. The concept of visible light active catalysis emerged in recent decades and continues to attract the scientific community. Driven primarily by an opportunity to develop novel multifunctional materials on one hand, and sustainable technologies on the other, several successful approaches have been explored. However, preparation, characterization, and application of visible light active Z-scheme heterojunction-based catalytic nanostructures are still at the foreground of research activity. Provides an overview on recently developed Z-scheme photocatalysts to stress their performance as catalysts Covers most of the important topics in photocatalysis Explores the most recent advances in synthesis to enable deeper understanding of the principles underlying electronic behavior of catalytic nanostructures, mechanistic details, and the evaluation of their effectiveness, as well as perspectives in solar light harvesting Serves as a valuable resource for better understanding of the current state of photocatalysis research and its possible applications in energy domain

Semiconductors for Photocatalysis, Volume 97 covers the latest breakthrough research and exciting developments in semiconductor photocatalysts and electrodes for water splitting and CO2 reduction. It includes a broad range of materials such as metal-oxides, metal-nitrides, silicon, III-V semiconductors, and the emerging layered compounds. New to this volume are chapters covering the Fundamentals of Semiconductor Photoelectrodes, Charge Carrier Dynamics in Metal Oxide Photoelectrodes for Water Oxidation, Photophysics and Photochemistry at the Semiconductor/Electrolyte Interface for Solar Water Splitting, V Semiconductor Photoelectrodes, III-Nitride Semiconductor Photoelectrodes, and Rare Earth Containing Materials for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting Applications. In addition, the design and modeling of photocatalysts and photoelectrodes and the fundamental mechanisms of water splitting and CO2 reduction is also discussed. Features the latest breakthroughs and research and development in semiconductor photocatalysis, solar fuels, and artificial photosynthesis Covers a broad range of topics, including a wide variety of materials and many important aspects of solar fuels Includes in-depth discussions on materials design, growth and synthesis, engineering, characterization, and photoelectrochemical studies

This book explains the use of nanocrystalline semiconductors in the harvesting of energy from solar light. It introduces promising methodology and technology which may help to increase the efficiency of light harvesting – one of the major challenges on the way toward sustainable energy generation.The book starts with a general introduction to the photochemistry of semiconductor nanocrystals. In the introductory chapter, the author also provides a frank and critical discussion on perspectives and limitations of the photocatalytic processes for solar light conversion including a historical account on semiconductor photocatalysis. He discusses that (and also why) it is a long way from laboratory prototypes to real sustainable technologies.The following chapters outline the conversion of solar light energy in semiconductor nanophotocatalysis on the one hand, and to (electric) energy in nanocrystalline semiconductor-based solar cells on the other hand. Topics addressed include nanophotocatalytic hydrogen production, artificial photosynthesis, quantum-dot sensitized liquid-junction and bulk heterojunction solar cells. Perspectives and opportunities, but also bottlenecks and limitations are discussed and the novel systems compared with established technology, such as classical silicon solar cells. While readers in this way learn to understand the basics and get introduced to the current research in the field, the final chapter provides them with the necessary knowledge about methodology, both in synthesis and characterization of semiconductor nanophotocatalysts and semiconductor nanomaterials, including examples for the practice of photocatalytic experiments and the studies of semiconductor-based solar cells.

Oxide semiconductors, including titanium dioxide (TiO2), are increasingly being considered as replacements for silicon in the development of the next generation of solar cells. Oxide Semiconductors for Solar Energy Conversion: Titanium Dioxide presents the basic properties of binary metal oxide semiconductors and the performance-related properties of TiO2 as they relate to solar energy. The book provides a general background on oxide semiconductors based on binary oxides and their solid solutions, including electronic and ionic conductors. It covers several aspects of solid-state electrochemistry of oxides, such as defect chemistry, and defect-related properties, such as electrical properties, diffusion, segregation, and reactivity. The author also takes a pioneering approach in considering bulk versus surface semiconducting properties, showing how they are different due to the effect of segregation. One of the first on semiconducting, photocatalytic, and photoelectrochemical properties of TiO2 and its solid solutions with donor- and acceptor-type ions, the book discusses defect chemistry of TiO2 in terms of defect equilibria and defect-related properties, including electrical properties, self and chemical diffusion, surface properties, segregation, and reactivity and photoreactivity with oxygen, water, and microbial agents. The text also illustrates the use of TiO2 as an emerging material for solar energy conversion systems, including the generation of hydrogen fuel by photoelectrochemical water splitting, the photocatalytic purification of water, and the generation of photovoltaic electricity. In addition, it presents defect disorder diagrams for the formation of TiO2-based semiconductors with controlled properties. Encompassing the areas of solid-state science, surface chemistry, and photocatalysis, this book reflects the increasing awareness of the importance of structural imperfections, such as point defects, in understanding the properties of metal oxides, specifically TiO2-based semiconductors.

In this book, expert authors describe advanced solar photon conversion approaches that promise highly efficient photovoltaic and photoelectrochemical cells with sophisticated architectures on the one hand, and plastic photovoltaic coatings that are inexpensive enough to be disposable on the other. Their leitmotifs include light-induced exciton generation, junction architectures that lead to efficient exciton dissociation, and charge collection by percolation through mesoscale phases. Photocatalysis is closely related to photoelectrochemistry, and the fundamentals of both disciplines are covered in this volume.

Key topics in this publication include semiconductor photochemistry and photoelectrochemistry, dye-sensitized solar cells and photocatalytic treatment of chemical waste. It discusses the commercialization and solar energy conversion of DSSC and the photocatalytic oxidation of air contaminants.