Synthsis of High-Surface-Energy Tio2 Nanocrystals and Its Applications in Renewable Energy

In this proposal, we design a simple and environment-friendly method to synthesize anatase TiO2 nanocrystals with remarkable (001) facets which can be extensively applied in the field of renewable-energy source. During the first year of the project, simple strategy such as hydrothermal, solvothermal or sol-gel methods will be adopted to synthesize anatase TiO2 with high ratio of (001) facets without typically used hydrofluoric acid and fluorine ionic liquid. Due to the greater activity of anatase Ti〇2 with (001) facets, we anticipate that it will have better photocatalytic performance compared with other phases, such as rutile and brookite, or the other facets. Moreover, with additional chemical modification of anatase TiO2 nanocrystals with remarkable (001) facets, this material will have great potential in the application of photocatalytic water splitting and organic-inorganic hybrid solar cells (P3HT/N-TiO2 system). Subsequently for the photocatalytic water splitting study in the second year, we expect to enhance the hydrogen production rate by using the methods of nitrogen doping (N-Ti〇2) and metal nanoparticles decoration in anatase TiO2 nanocrystals with remarkable (001) facets. Finally for P3HT/N-TiO2 organic-inorganic hybrid solar cells study in the third year, we’ll substitute the conventional Ti〇2 nanorods by N-TiO2 nanocrystals due to its additional ability of visible light absorption. Accompanied by chemical modification of the surface of N-TiO2 nanocrystal, we anticipate the energy conversion efficiency of organic-inorganic hybrid solar cells can be further improved.

Project ID:PB10104-0045
External Project ID:NSC101-2218-E182-001