Colloidal Metal Chalcogenide Quantum Dots as Photo-Redox Catalysts for Model Reactions Relevant to the Formationof Liquid Fuels
Abstract
This document details a proposal to use light and colloidal semiconductor nanoparticles (or“quantum dots”, QDs) to catalyze a set of basic chemical reactions relevant to the production ofliquid fuels. Many reactions that produce, or facilitate the production of, fuels – such as thereduction of CO2 to methanol or methane – require multiple electron reductions or oxidations ofsmall-molecules. These “redox” reactions can be conducted even more sustainably by poweringthem with sunlight, through the use of a “photo-redox catalyst”.The long-term objective of this research is to develop metal-chalcogenide QDs into soluble,multi-active-site, colloidal photo-redox catalysts that surpass the performance of homogeneousand heterogeneous catalysts for the sustainable, solar-powered production of liquid fuels. In thenext three years, we aim to demonstrate and study four basic types of fuel-production-relevantprocesses that (i) use the QD surface as a scaffold to bring reagents together, and (ii) manipulatethe electronic structure of the QD excited state to provide electrons with sufficient energy toperform reactions without sacrificial reagents. Each of these processes exploits unique characteristics of colloidal QDs as photocatalysts, andeach requires the QD to serve the roles of both light absorber and catalyst. In achieving theobjectives detailed in this proposal, we will answer fundamental questions about proton-coupledcharge transfer at the interface between semiconductor nanoparticle and a molecule, realize newsurface chemistries for nanoparticles to adsorb catalytic substrates in reactive geometries, learn tocontrol the density of protons and characterize molecule-molecule interactions on nanostructuredsurfaces, and, ultimately, move toward establishing quantum dots as the next class of high performing photocatalyst for the production of liquid fuels.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- May 02, 2017
- Source ID
- FA95501710271
Entities
People
- Emily Weiss
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Northwestern University
- United States Air Force