Abstract
Hydrogen peroxide is produced at an industrial level via the energy-intensive anthraquinone process, posing significant environmental concerns. This project aims to develop a more sustainable alternative based on photo(electro)catalysis, utilizing only water, molecular oxygen, and light as the energy input. I will study composites of g-C?N? modified with plasmonic bimetallic nanoparticles to enhance visible light utilization. The composition of AuxAu??? nanoparticles will be tuned to match the g-C?N? band gap, optimizing the plasmonic enhancement. Typically, plasmonic nanostructures are randomly deposited on the photocatalyst's surface, leading to a limited area of interaction. To overcome this, I will self-assemble g-C?N? and AuxAu??? nanoparticles into closely interacting 3D supraparticles, maximizing plasmonic coupling effects. A key challenge remains to identify the precise reaction pathway, crucial for rational catalyst design. To address this, advanced functional characterization with high resolution in space and time will be conducted to determine the mechanisms and key materials properties influencing yield, selectivity, and stability. Finally, I will develop a novel lab-scale photo(electro)catalytic reactor for continuous-flow H?O? production, paving the way for greener industrial applications.
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