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Role of Defect Type in Optimizing Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Production Catalysts

The search for new energy sources has become a global challenge due to the increasing demand for energy and the negative impact of traditional energy sources on the environment. The photoelectrochemical water splitting has emerged as a promising alternative source for producing hydrogen, which can b...

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Main Author: Mahrous, Mohamed
Format: Thesis
Published: AUC Knowledge Fountain 2023
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access_status_str Open Access
author Mahrous, Mohamed
author_browse Mahrous, Mohamed
author_facet Mahrous, Mohamed
author_sort Mahrous, Mohamed
collection Thesis
description The search for new energy sources has become a global challenge due to the increasing demand for energy and the negative impact of traditional energy sources on the environment. The photoelectrochemical water splitting has emerged as a promising alternative source for producing hydrogen, which can be used as a clean fuel. However, it is necessary to tailor the properties of the light-active material that will be used to absorb sunlight and split water. This research project aimed at providing detailed insights into the effect of varying the type and concentration of defects on the optical and electronic properties of diamond as a catalyst for photoelectrochemical water splitting. This study focused on three categories of dopants, including one, two, and three substituted boron atoms, as well as additional substitution dopants, such as nitrogen. The selection of boron and nitrogen dopants was based on their rich p- and ncharacteristics, respectively, which could enhance the catalytic properties of the material. Interstitial hydrogen atoms were also introduced as another type of defect to stress the lattice atoms and cause variations in the electronic and optical properties of the material. The results showed that the type and concentration of dopants is significantly affecting the band gap, dielectric constant, and absorption of the material. The band gap decreased with increasing the concentration of dopants, indicating that higher dopant concentrations enhanced the ability of the material to conduct electricity. The dielectric constant and absorption coefficient also showed a strong dependence on the type and concentration of dopants. For example, the addition of interstitial hydrogen atoms caused a significant reduction in the dielectric constant, while the addition of nitrogen dopants increased the absorption coefficient of the material. The study also applied the conclusions drawn from the analysis to another material, CuO, and found that the material exhibited the expected behavior. This finding indicates that the conclusions drawn from the analysis of the first material are generally applicable to other materials.
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institution American University in Cairo (Egypt)
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:35:54.296Z
license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from AUC Knowledge Fountain — bepress
publishDate 2023
publishDateRange 2023
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spelling oai:fount.aucegypt.edu:etds-3218 Role of Defect Type in Optimizing Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Production Catalysts Mahrous, Mohamed The search for new energy sources has become a global challenge due to the increasing demand for energy and the negative impact of traditional energy sources on the environment. The photoelectrochemical water splitting has emerged as a promising alternative source for producing hydrogen, which can be used as a clean fuel. However, it is necessary to tailor the properties of the light-active material that will be used to absorb sunlight and split water. This research project aimed at providing detailed insights into the effect of varying the type and concentration of defects on the optical and electronic properties of diamond as a catalyst for photoelectrochemical water splitting. This study focused on three categories of dopants, including one, two, and three substituted boron atoms, as well as additional substitution dopants, such as nitrogen. The selection of boron and nitrogen dopants was based on their rich p- and ncharacteristics, respectively, which could enhance the catalytic properties of the material. Interstitial hydrogen atoms were also introduced as another type of defect to stress the lattice atoms and cause variations in the electronic and optical properties of the material. The results showed that the type and concentration of dopants is significantly affecting the band gap, dielectric constant, and absorption of the material. The band gap decreased with increasing the concentration of dopants, indicating that higher dopant concentrations enhanced the ability of the material to conduct electricity. The dielectric constant and absorption coefficient also showed a strong dependence on the type and concentration of dopants. For example, the addition of interstitial hydrogen atoms caused a significant reduction in the dielectric constant, while the addition of nitrogen dopants increased the absorption coefficient of the material. The study also applied the conclusions drawn from the analysis to another material, CuO, and found that the material exhibited the expected behavior. This finding indicates that the conclusions drawn from the analysis of the first material are generally applicable to other materials. 2023-06-15T07:00:00Z thesis application/pdf https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds/2170 https://fount.aucegypt.edu/context/etds/article/3218/viewcontent/Thesis_Final_version.pdf Theses and Dissertations AUC Knowledge Fountain DFT Defects photoelectrochemistry water splitting Diamond hydrogen production electronic properties CuO Doping Engineering Physical Sciences and Mathematics
spellingShingle DFT
Defects
photoelectrochemistry
water splitting
Diamond
hydrogen production
electronic properties
CuO
Doping
Engineering
Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Mahrous, Mohamed
Role of Defect Type in Optimizing Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Production Catalysts
title Role of Defect Type in Optimizing Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Production Catalysts
title_full Role of Defect Type in Optimizing Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Production Catalysts
title_fullStr Role of Defect Type in Optimizing Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Production Catalysts
title_full_unstemmed Role of Defect Type in Optimizing Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Production Catalysts
title_short Role of Defect Type in Optimizing Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Production Catalysts
title_sort role of defect type in optimizing photoelectrochemical hydrogen production catalysts
topic DFT
Defects
photoelectrochemistry
water splitting
Diamond
hydrogen production
electronic properties
CuO
Doping
Engineering
Physical Sciences and Mathematics
url https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds/2170
https://fount.aucegypt.edu/context/etds/article/3218/viewcontent/Thesis_Final_version.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT mahrousmohamed roleofdefecttypeinoptimizingphotoelectrochemicalhydrogenproductioncatalysts