Research Projects

Binary/ ternary heterostructures of Graphene derivatives/TMPs/Bi-based oxides, sulfides/ (Zn, Cd)In2S4 nanocatalysts will be engineered hydrothermally for the successful band-alignment as visible light nanocatalyst in photochemical and photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and CO2 reduction reaction (CRR). The targeted TMPs will be nickel, copper and cobalt based phosphides. Preliminary characterizations would be performed to examine the structural properties followed by the morphological, optoelectronic and surface properties investigations of GO, rGO/TMPs/(Bi-O/S)/(Zn/Cd)In2S4 heterostructures to evaluate the potential active sites in efficient H2 production and CO2 reduction. Alongside, the characterizations that would assist in the realization of interfacial charge transfer between heterostructured entities would also be carried out by utilizing photoluminescence and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. Mechanistic sketch would be achieved via DFT calculations to obtain thermodynamic landscape and other reaction parameters. Finally, the photochemical and photo-/electrochemical responses of as-fabricated heterostructures will be analyzed by using various combinations of instrumental parameters towards efficient H2 production and CO2 reduction for renewable energy applications.