Objective Many critical photochemical and photophysical processes, from photosynthesis in plants, to photocatalytic reactions, and to generation of electricity in solar cells, depend on an efficient light-matter interaction. In order to increase, for example, the efficiency of photocatalysis, the interaction of the photocatalyst with light has to be increased. This project will pursue two lines of investigation in order to achieve this. Firstly, the concept of light-harvesting will be exploited. Light energy can be harvested by collecting, directing and concentrating it at a reaction center, in a fashion that mimics that used by plants. Secondly, for specific types of catalysis such as noble metal nano-particle (NP) based catalysis, the plasmon light field at the metal NPs can potentially be used to enable a more efficient light-matter interaction. The applicant proposes to combine both approaches, to create a plasmonic antenna to funnel light to a reaction center, whilst at the same time using the plasmons generated as an efficient reaction field in catalysis. The outcome will make it possible to drastically increase activities of (photo)catalysts, enabling their efficient operation under sunlight or even in weak room light conditions. For this, the project firstly adevelops novel photo-induced synthesis for metal NPs, both in solution and at surfaces, as well as at arranging the NPs in effective antennae. Secondly, microscopy modes will be developed/implemented that allow monitoring the growth of the NPs in situ, that allow checking the quality of the arrays and that allow in situ monitoring of catalytic test reactions. These knowledge will be applied to ‘real world’ (photo)catalysts (gold NP catalysis and TiO2, respectively). This project will thus result in new light-induced synthesis and fabrication methods of NPs; in new and/or improved microscopy modes and spectroscopic schemes in order to study the relationship between plasmonic properties and chemical reactions. Fields of science natural scienceschemical sciencescatalysisphotocatalysisnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopyengineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materialsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbotany Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-SG-PE5 - ERC Starting Grant - Materials and Synthesis Call for proposal ERC-2011-StG_20101014 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant Coordinator KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN Address Oude markt 13 3000 Leuven Belgium See on map Region Vlaams Gewest Prov. Vlaams-Brabant Arr. Leuven Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Hiroshi Ujii (Dr.) Administrative Contact Sofie Heroes (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window EU contribution No data Beneficiaries (2) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN Belgium EU contribution € 1 403 120,00 Address Oude markt 13 3000 Leuven See on map Region Vlaams Gewest Prov. Vlaams-Brabant Arr. Leuven Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Hiroshi Ujii (Dr.) Administrative Contact Sofie Heroes (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data KOKURITSU DAIGAKU HOJIN HOKKAIDO DAIGAKU Japan EU contribution € 96 000,00 Address Kita 8 nishi 5 kita ku 060 0808 Sapporo See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Hideki Rokke (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Other funding No data
