Aluminum Nanocrystals as a Plasmonic Photocatalyst for Hydrogen Dissociation

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dc.contributor.advisorHalas, Naomi J
dc.creatorZhang, Chao
dc.date.accessioned2017-08-02T18:55:50Z
dc.date.available2017-08-02T18:55:50Z
dc.date.created2016-05
dc.date.issued2016-03-31
dc.date.submittedMay 2016
dc.date.updated2017-08-02T18:55:50Z
dc.description.abstractHydrogen dissociation is a critical step in many hydrogenation reactions central to industrial chemical production and pollutant removal. This step typically utilizes the favorable band structure of precious metal catalysts like platinum and palladium to achieve high efficiency under mild conditions. Here we demonstrate that aluminum nanocrystals (Al NCs), when illuminated, can be used as a photocatalyst for hydrogen dissociation at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, despite the high activation barrier toward hydrogen adsorption and dissociation. We show that hot electron transfer from Al NCs to the antibonding orbitals of hydrogen molecules facilitates their dissociation. Hot electrons generated from surface plasmon decay and from direct photoexcitation of the interband transitions of Al both contribute to this process. Our results pave the way for the use of aluminum, an earth-abundant, nonprecious metal, for photocatalysis.
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.citationZhang, Chao. "Aluminum Nanocrystals as a Plasmonic Photocatalyst for Hydrogen Dissociation." (2016) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/96256">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/96256</a>.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/96256
dc.language.isoeng
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.
dc.subjectPlasmonic photocatalysis
dc.subjectaluminum nanocrystals
dc.subjecthydrogen dissociation
dc.subjecthot electron
dc.subjectinterband transition
dc.titleAluminum Nanocrystals as a Plasmonic Photocatalyst for Hydrogen Dissociation
dc.typeThesis
dc.type.materialText
thesis.degree.departmentElectrical and Computer Engineering
thesis.degree.disciplineEngineering
thesis.degree.grantorRice University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science
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