Objectif Hydrogen produced by sunlight is a very promising, environmentally-friendly energy source as an alternative for fossil fuels, which are limited present on earth and produce green house gases by their combustion. Since the discovery of hydrogen production by photocatalytic water dissociation on a titanium dioxide (TiO2) electrode 40 years ago, much research has been performed to make the process more efficient mostly through a trial-and-error approach. However, fundamental knowledge of how water is bound to the catalyst, what the relation between structure and reactivity is, and what the dynamics of the photodissociation reaction are, is lacking up to now, because no suitable techniques were available. The aim of this proposal is to answer these fundamental questions by looking at specifically the molecules at the interface, before and during their dissociation. With the surface sensitive spectroscopic technique sum-frequency generation (SFG) we can look explicitly at the monolayer of water molecules at the interface. A recent expansion of this technique into two-dimensional SFG will allow us to determine the heterogeneity of the water molecules at the interface. Moreover, the dynamics of the photodissociation of water on TiO2 will be investigated by applying pump-probe sum-frequency generation spectroscopy. At variable delay times after the pump pulse the probe pulses will interrogate the interface and detect the reaction intermediates and products. Due to recent developments of this SFG technique it should now be possible to determine the structure of water at the TiO2 interface and to unravel the dynamics of the photodissocation process. The results will be essential for understanding the fundamentals of the water dissociation process at oxide surfaces and thus for developing cheaper and more efficient photocatalysts for the production of hydrogen. Champ scientifique natural scienceschemical sciencescatalysisphotocatalysisnatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrytransition metalsengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energyhydrogen energynatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsspectroscopy Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Thème(s) FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG - Marie-Curie Action: "Career Integration Grants" Appel à propositions FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG Voir d’autres projets de cet appel Régime de financement MC-CIG - Support for training and career development of researcher (CIG) Coordinateur MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN EV Contribution de l’UE € 100 000,00 Adresse HOFGARTENSTRASSE 8 80539 Munchen Allemagne Voir sur la carte Région Bayern Oberbayern München, Kreisfreie Stadt Type d’activité Research Organisations Contact administratif Udo Schreiner (Mr.) Liens Contacter l’organisation Opens in new window Site web Opens in new window Coût total Aucune donnée