Hetero-Nanostructures for Solar Energy Conversions and Methods of Fabricating Same

• US 20100043877A1
• Filed: 08/25/2009
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trustees of Boston College (Boston College)
• Original Assignee: Trustees of Boston College (Boston College)
• Inventors: Lin, Yongjing, Wang, Dunwei
• Granted Patent: US 8,216,436 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/256
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/55 Photoelectrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0336 in different semiconductor regions, e.g. Cu2X/CdX hetero- junctions, X being an element of Group VI of the Periodic Table
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0352 characterised by their shape or by the shapes, relative sizes or disposition of the semiconductor regions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/10 Process efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/133 Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight

Abstract

The embodiments disclosed herein relate to hetero-nanostructures for efficient solar energy conversions, and more particularly to the fabrication of titanium dioxide hetero-nanostructures and methods of using same for water splitting. In an embodiment, a hetero-nanostructure includes a plurality of connected and spaced-apart nanobeams linked together at an about 90-degree angle, the plurality of nanobeams including a conductive silicide core having an n-type photoactive titanium dioxide shell. In an embodiment, a device for splitting water to generate hydrogen and oxygen includes a first compartment two-dimensional hetero-nanostructure having a plurality of connected and spaced-apart nanobeams, each nanobeam substantially perpendicular to another nanobeam, the plurality of nanobeams including an n-type photoactive titanium dioxide shell having a highly conductive core; and a second compartment copper-doped titanium dioxide nanostructure, wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are separated by a semi-permeable membrane.

Claims

1. A hetero-nanostructure comprising a plurality of connected and spaced-apart nanobeams linked together at an about 90-degree angle, the plurality of nanobeams including a conductive silicide core having an n-type photoactive titanium dioxide shell.

2. The hetero-nanostructure of claim 1 wherein the conductive silicide core is a titanium silicide core.

3. The hetero-nanostructure of claim 1 wherein the n-type photoactive titanium dioxide shell includes a dopant to absorb visible light.

4. The hetero-nanostructure of claim 1 wherein the plurality of nanobeams are two-dimensional.

5. The hetero-nanostructure of claim 1 wherein the hetero-nanostructure is used as a photoelectrochemical cell.

6. The hetero-nanostructure of claim 1 wherein the hetero-nanostructure is used as a solar cell.

7. The hetero-nanostructure of claim 1 for use in producing hydrogen.

8. A hetero-nanostructure comprising an array of nanowires, wherein each nanowire in the array includes an n-type photoactive titanium dioxide shell over a p-type sulfide core.

9. The hetero-nanostructure of claim 8 wherein the p-type sulfide core is a cuprous sulfide core.

10. The hetero-nanostructure of claim 8 wherein the n-type photoactive titanium dioxide shell includes a dopant so as to achieve visible light absorption.

11. The hetero-nanostructure of claim 8 wherein the hetero-nanostructure is used as a photoelectrochemical cell.

12. The hetero-nanostructure of claim 8 wherein the hetero-nanostructure is used as a solar cell.

13. The hetero-nanostructure of claim 8 for use in producing hydrogen.

14. A device for splitting water to generate hydrogen and oxygen comprising:

a first compartment two-dimensional hetero-nanostructure having a plurality of connected and spaced-apart nanobeams, each nanobeam substantially perpendicular to another nanobeam, the plurality of nanobeams including an n-type photoactive titanium dioxide shell and a highly conductive core; and

a second compartment copper-doped titanium dioxide nanostructure, wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are separated by a semi-permeable membrane.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the highly conductive core is a titanium silicide core.

16. The device of claim 14 wherein the highly conductive core is a cuprous sulfide core.

17. The device of claim 14 wherein the n-type photoactive titanium dioxide shell includes a dopant to absorb visible light.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the dopant includes tungsten.

19. The device of claim 14 wherein a thickness of the n-type photoactive titanium dioxide shell ranges from about 25 nm to about 35 nm.

20. The device of claim 14 wherein the first compartment includes an acidic solution and the second compartment includes a basic solution.