Enhancing Catalytic and Photocatalytic Performance of Nanoparticles
Presented by Prof. Elena Shevchenko
Abstract:
In my talk I will cover synthetic approaches toward fabrication of nanomaterials relevant for catalytic and photocatalytic applications. I will present a new method of direct fabrication of the catalyst on a highly porous support based on infiltration of polymer templates with inorganic precursors. I will overview the strategies that can be utilized to improve the performance of nanoparticles. These strategies include surface modification of catalytic nanoparticles with organic molecules and ionic species and tuning the form of the substrate molecules. Using CdSe/CdS nanorods, the material that is traditionally studied as photoreductive catalyst for synthesis of H2 in water, I will show how such structures even at extremely low concentration of catalyst loading can be used to catalyze the oxidation reactions in organic solvents. Using optical spectroscopy data and EPR studies I will discuss the pathways of the oxidative processes involved into S–S coupling of thiols, a reaction important for many biological processes, responsible for folding many peptides and proteins into biologically active conformations, and synthesis of dithiol. I will discuss the effect of ligand/solvent/nonsolvent interaction on the solvation of the ligand shell can be relevant for redox processes at the surface of nanomaterials in the solution.
Hosted by Xavier Roy
More About Prof. Shevchenko
