Synthesis and Characterization of Metal Phosphates for Photocatalytic Applications

  • Bedour E. Al-Sabban

Student thesis: Master's Thesis

Abstract

Solar energy is the most abundant efficient and important source of renewable energy. The objective of this study is to develop highly efficient visible light responsive photocatalysts for overall water splitting. This is done by using silver or copper containing materials. Phosphate compounds have caught much attention due to their rigid structure, thermal stability and resistance to chemical attacks. Solid phosphates can be prepared by direct solid-state reaction between metal cations and phosphate anions at high temperatures. Double metal phosphates of the Nasion-type structure had shown further technological importance. It has been reported that well-crystallized double metal phosphate particles have excellent ordering and cationic conduction channels in the Nasicon framework. In this study, several Nasion-type structured materials have been synthesized by solid-state method (e.g. CuTi2(PO4)3 and AgTi2(PO4)3) heated up under different temperatures (400–1100C) in N2 or air atmosphere. These materials were characterized by XRD, SEM, DR-UV-Vis spectroscopy and tested for photocatalytic applications. A new method for direct synthesis of photoelectrode on Ti Plate had been demonstrated. Further investigations on controlling the size and morphology for better performance of single and double metal phosphates will be done.
Date of AwardJul 2012
Original languageEnglish (US)
Awarding Institution
  • Physical Sciences and Engineering
SupervisorKazuhiro Takanabe (Supervisor)

Keywords

  • Metal phosphates
  • H2 evolution
  • Nasicon type materials
  • Photoelectrode Preparation
  • CuTi2(PO4)3

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