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Combining photocatalysis and optical fibre technology towards improved microreactor design for hydrogen generation with metallic nanoparticles

Combining photocatalysis and optical fibre technology towards improved microreactor design for hydrogen generation with metallic nanoparticles
Combining photocatalysis and optical fibre technology towards improved microreactor design for hydrogen generation with metallic nanoparticles

The use of solar energy to activate chemical pathways in a sustainable manner drives the development in photocatalysis. While catalyst optimization is a major theme in this pursuit, the development of novel photocatalytic reactors to enhance productivity is also imperative. In this work we combine, for the first time, microstructured optical fiber technology with photocatalysis, creating a photocatalytic microreactor coated with TiO2, decorated with palladium nanoparticles. In doing so, we create a system capable of effectively combining photons, liquids, and gases within a monolithic, highly confined, transparent silica geometry. We utilize a range of characterization techniques to selectively focus on the photocatalyst, that resides exclusively within the internal capillaries of this system. In doing so, we validate our design approach and demonstrate the ability to simultaneously control both nanoparticle size and metal content. Further, we justify our unique design, showing its activity in photocatalytic hydrogen generation from water. In doing so highlights the importance in developing light propagation properties from optical fibers and the significant potential of this technology in the expansive photocatalysis landscape.

catalysis, hydrogen production, nanoparticles, optical fiber, photonics, solar energy, tomography
2330-4022
714-722
Potter, Matthew E.
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Stewart, Daniel J.
03dcd3ae-9a52-402a-b8d6-ab2b99c878e6
Oakley, Alice Elizabeth
78ad819d-33bb-4c77-af90-9dcc96ed52e0
Boardman, Richard P.
5818d677-5732-4e8a-a342-7164dbb10df1
Bradley, Tom
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Sazio, Pier J.A.
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Raja, Robert
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Potter, Matthew E.
34dee7dc-2f62-4022-bb65-fc7b7fb526d2
Stewart, Daniel J.
03dcd3ae-9a52-402a-b8d6-ab2b99c878e6
Oakley, Alice Elizabeth
78ad819d-33bb-4c77-af90-9dcc96ed52e0
Boardman, Richard P.
5818d677-5732-4e8a-a342-7164dbb10df1
Bradley, Tom
d4cce4f3-bb69-4e14-baee-cd6a88e38101
Sazio, Pier J.A.
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Raja, Robert
74faf442-38a6-4ac1-84f9-b3c039cb392b

Potter, Matthew E., Stewart, Daniel J., Oakley, Alice Elizabeth, Boardman, Richard P., Bradley, Tom, Sazio, Pier J.A. and Raja, Robert (2020) Combining photocatalysis and optical fibre technology towards improved microreactor design for hydrogen generation with metallic nanoparticles. ACS Photonics, 7 (3), 714-722. (doi:10.1021/acsphotonics.9b01577).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The use of solar energy to activate chemical pathways in a sustainable manner drives the development in photocatalysis. While catalyst optimization is a major theme in this pursuit, the development of novel photocatalytic reactors to enhance productivity is also imperative. In this work we combine, for the first time, microstructured optical fiber technology with photocatalysis, creating a photocatalytic microreactor coated with TiO2, decorated with palladium nanoparticles. In doing so, we create a system capable of effectively combining photons, liquids, and gases within a monolithic, highly confined, transparent silica geometry. We utilize a range of characterization techniques to selectively focus on the photocatalyst, that resides exclusively within the internal capillaries of this system. In doing so, we validate our design approach and demonstrate the ability to simultaneously control both nanoparticle size and metal content. Further, we justify our unique design, showing its activity in photocatalytic hydrogen generation from water. In doing so highlights the importance in developing light propagation properties from optical fibers and the significant potential of this technology in the expansive photocatalysis landscape.

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Accepted/In Press date: 21 February 2020
e-pub ahead of print date: 24 February 2020
Published date: 18 March 2020
Keywords: catalysis, hydrogen production, nanoparticles, optical fiber, photonics, solar energy, tomography

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 438447
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/438447
ISSN: 2330-4022
PURE UUID: 309b2dbc-ba8b-45fa-b7a4-baf2c6aec133
ORCID for Matthew E. Potter: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-9849-3306
ORCID for Daniel J. Stewart: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-3409-6517
ORCID for Alice Elizabeth Oakley: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-5489-9424
ORCID for Richard P. Boardman: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-4008-0098
ORCID for Tom Bradley: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-6568-5811
ORCID for Pier J.A. Sazio: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-6506-9266
ORCID for Robert Raja: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-4161-7053

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 10 Mar 2020 17:31
Last modified: 28 Mar 2024 05:03

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Contributors

Author: Alice Elizabeth Oakley ORCID iD
Author: Tom Bradley ORCID iD
Author: Pier J.A. Sazio ORCID iD
Author: Robert Raja ORCID iD

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