The latest advances along with the overview of two decades of fundamental and applied research on low-cost metal oxide semiconductor aqueous design, electronic structure and applications for renewable energy systems [1] will be presented. It will include the design and fabrication strategies [2] as well as nanodevices fabrication for efficient low cost solar (sea)water oxidation without sacrificial agents [3]. Visible-light active photocatalyst heteronanostructures based on non-toxic and earth abundant materials engineered to efficiently drive aqueous chemical reactions at their interfaces will be demonstrated. Their surface chemistry [4], structural, optical, electrical [5], electronic structure [6], photoelectrochemical, and dimensionality/confinement effects [7] along with their efficiency have been thoroughly investigated at synchrotron radiation facilities as well as in our laboratories. The most promising structures including oxides, nitrides, sulfides and phosphides for low cost and large scale solar water splitting will be discussed along with the atomic-scale origin of their performance and stability [8].

References

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[4]L. Vayssieres, J. Phys. Chem. C 113, 4733 (2009); Int. J. Nanotechnol. 2,411 (2005)

[5]J. Engel et al, Adv. Funct. Mater. 24, 4952 (2014)

[6]C.X. Kronawitter et al, Nano Lett. 11, 3855 (2011); Phys. Rev. B 85, 125109 (2012); J. Phys. Chem. C 116, 22780 (2012); PhysChemChemPhys 15, 13483 (2013); F. J. Himpsel et al, J. Electron Spectrosc. Relat. Phenom. 190, 2 (2013); C. L. Dong et al, Phys. Rev. B 70, 195325 (2004); J.H. Guo et al, J. Phys. Condens. Matter 14, 6969 (2002)

[7]L. Vayssieres et al, Appl. Phys. Lett. 99, 183101 (2011); Adv. Mater. 17, 2320 (2005)

[8] M.G. Kibria et al, Adv. Mater. 28, 8388 (2016); J.Z Su et al, J. Phys. Chem. Lett. (2017), invited perspective