Synthesis and characterization of nanostructured modified TiO2 arrays as photoanodes for solar energy conversion

Abstract

Student Name: Heba Elsayed Ali Hassan Title of the thesis:Synthesis and characterization of nanostructured modified TiO2 arrays as photoanodes for solar energy conversion Degree:Ph.D. in Science (Chemistry) In recent years, the increase in world population and industrial activities has led to accelerated energy consumption and unabated release of hazardous pollutants release to the air and water sources, which lead to pollution-related diseases and global warming. These aroused our awareness of the urgency of initiating an alternative renewable energy sources that would deliver the least environmental negative impacts. Sun planet radiation is the immense source of renewable energy and can potentially be used to satisfy the world's increasing energy demand. However, intensive efforts are being perused to develop new and high performance solar energy conversion systems. Such conversion systems require novel photosensitive materials to assist proper function of the photovoltaic cells, or chemical energy processes in the form of hydrogen using photoelectrochemical(PEC) cells. The present work focuses on developing materials used for the solar energy conversion to hydrogen through the process of PEC water splitting. PEC water splitting process is aimed to produce hydrogen and oxygen through the use of solar irradiation of a semiconductor material that present in water is considered as an ideal method for renewable energy production and storage. Hydrogen can be efficiently used to produce electric power using the proper fuel cell or it can be directly driven to an internal combustion engine. Advantageously, hydrogen gas produces only water upon oxidation which in turn has no hazardous exhaust of greenhouse gasses.