PhD Nano-scale characterization of catalytic metal nanoparticle -semiconductor interfaces using in...

In the Physics of Complex Fluids (PCF) group at the University of Twente (Enschede, The Netherlands, http://www.utwente.nl/en/tnw/pcf/ ), research is aimed to understand various behaviors of multicomponent fluids near interfaces.

The goal of the PhD project is to develop and use AFM-based spectroscopy to nanoscopically characterize the interfaces between electrolyte, semiconductor- and cocatalyst-nanoparticles under photocatalytic operating conditions (e. g. in liquid, under applied bias and illumination) and to establish surface property-catalytic activity correlations in order to optimize the photocatalysis.

Surface properties such as atomic scale structure, charge density, hydration state and morphology will be assessed using amplitude modulation AFM under photoelectrochemical operation conditions.

To elucidate the catalytic performance at the nanoscale, conductive and electrochemical AFM will be used. These methods should reveal correlations between topographic and catalytic activity via current mapping, and identify the underlying charge transport mechanism via local IV-spectroscopy. The portfolio of used AFM methods will give unprecedented access to the fundamental mechanisms dominating photoelectrochemical performance at the nanoscale, revealing e.g. the role of the defects, crystal facets, and fluid composition.

This information will be instrumental for understanding the macroscale photo-(electro)catalysis performance limitations and thereby guide the development of novel more efficient materials for the desired redox reactions, such as water splitting or CO2 reduction.