Heterogeneous photocatalysis is typically assumed to occur via photon absorption by a solid-state photocatalyst (only the photocatalyst electronic states are involved in photon absorption) followed by charge carrier diffusion through the photocatalyst bulk and subsequent transfer to adsorbates. This process of energetic charge carrier generation and transfer results in wavelength dependent quantum efficiencies that strictly follow the absorption spectrum of the solid-state photocatalysts, regardless of the chemical transformation. The substrate (photocatalyst) mediated photo-absorption process inhibits approaches to control reaction selectivity by matching photon excitation wavelengths to bond specific electronic transitions, as typically done in molecular systems.

Here, we show that strong chemisorption bonds formed between CO and Pt metal surfaces can be activated with visible photons to drive catalysis through direct, resonant photoexcitation of hybridized Pt-CO states. This is enabled as the dominant photoexcitation mechanism (over substrate mediated photoexcitation) driving catalysis by using sub-5-nanometer Pt nanoparticle catalysts, where high surface area to volume ratios force photon absorption onto surface metal atoms. The direct photoexcitation process is observed to be significantly more efficient for driving photocatalysis than the indirect photoexcitation process when the energy of exciting photons is resonant with adsorbate specific electronic transitions involving hybridized metal-adsorbate states. It is also demonstrated that resonant photoexcitation of Pt-CO bonds on sub-5-nanometer Pt nanoparticles by visible light significantly enhances selectivity towards CO₂, over H₂O production, in the selective oxidation of CO by O₂ in an H₂ rich stream (also known as preferential CO oxidation). These results open new avenues to control catalytic reaction selectivity on sub 5-nm catalytic particles by resonant photoexcitation of adsorbate-specific electronic transitions involving hybridized metal and adsorbate states. It is expected that the development of insights into resonant electronic transitions between hybridized metal-adsorbate states should allow rational control of catalytic selectivity that cannot be achieved exclusively with thermal energy input.

A cluster expansion approach based on ab-initio calculations has been used to investigate the relationship between surface structures of Pt₃Ni(111) alloy catalysts and their catalytic activity. With this approach, we build a direct bridge between the atomic structure and catalytic properties of Pt-Ni alloy system at a variety of compositions and chemical environments. The equilibrium near-surface structures are presented as a function of O₂ partial pressure and the chemical potential difference between Ni and Pt. We discuss the relative importance of strain, ligand, and ensemble effects in determining catalytic activity, and demonstrate how ensemble effects can be leveraged to rationally design alloy surfaces with optimal ORR activity by searching for surfaces with targeted oxygen binding energy.

Thermoelectric materials for energy generation have several advantages over conventional power cycles including lack of moving parts, silent operation, miniaturizability, and CO2 free conversion of heat to electricity. Excellent thermoelectric efficiency requires a combination of high thermopower (S, V/K), high electrical conductivity (σ, S/cm), and low thermal conductivity (κ, W/mK). To date the best materials available have been inorganic compounds with relatively low earth abundance and highly complex, vacuum processing routes (and hence greater expense), such as Bi₂Te_3. Molecular materials and hybrid organic-inorganics bring the promise of solution processible, mechanically durable devices. While highly conductive polymers are now common place, they generally demonstrate low thermopower. Our work on molecular scale junctions that nanostructuring of organics allows them to act as thermionic filters between inorganic junctions which can lead to enhanced thermoelectric properties. We have taken inspiration from this fundamental understanding to design material systems in which we combine a high electrical conductivity, low thermal conductivity polymer with a nanoparticle that contributes high thermopower. Additionally, the work functions of the two materials are well-aligned which introduces the possibility of thermionic filtering at the interface and an additional boost to the power factor. The combination of these effects results in a new hybrid, solution processible material with a thermoelectric figure of merit within an order of magnitude of the Bi₂Te₃. In this talk, I will discuss both the use of thermoelectric measurements to gain insight to molecular junctions and how this insight translates to design principles for polymer and hybrid thermoelectrics.

The amount of thermal energy rejected as waste heat from industrial processes in the United States has been estimated at 32 quadrillion BTU per year, with an associated emission of 1,680 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. The ability to cost-effectively convert a portion of this thermal energy into useful electrical energy could improve energy efficiency, reduce operating costs, and decrease CO₂ emissions. Waste heat is typically categorized by temperature as high-grade (650ºC and above), medium-grade (232ºC to 650ºC, and low-grade (232ºC and below). In order to improve the thermal-to-electrical conversion efficiency of medium-grade waste heat, RTI has combined two different materials to form a high figure-of-merit, hybrid thermoelectric (TE) device. Recently-developed enhanced “TAGS-85”, or e-TAGS, was employed as the p-leg, while the n leg was comprised of improved half-Heusler (HH) material. This hybrid material pair provides a high ZT, lead-free TE material solution for waste heat recovery for use in vehicle or industrial platforms. The improved HH material employs two novel techniques to reduce thermal conductivity: (1) high-energy milling, and (2) addition of coherent inclusions. Single n-/p- couples were produced that achieved a 9.2% thermal to electric power conversion efficiency for T_hot = 559°C and ∆T = 523K. This is a significant efficiency improvement at a lower hot side temperature with the hybrid e-TAGS/HH single couple over the performance of a conventional, all HH couple. By optimizing the cross sectional areas of the pellets for equal heat flow, the resulting asymmetric couple achieved a conversion efficiency of 10.5% at T_hot = 537°C and ∆T = 497°C. A 49-couple hybrid module using HH materials paired with e-TAGS and operated with T_hot up to 600°C reached a maximum efficiency of 10%. The improved module efficiency is believed to be due to both improved materials and optimized cross-sectional area ratios between the n- and p- elements. We will also discuss additional advances in thermal to electric power conversion using multi-stage modules.

1. Dresselhaus, M.S., et al., Advanced Materials, 2007. 19(8): p. 1043-1053.

2. Hochbaum, A.I., et al., Nature, 2008. 451(7175): p. 163-U5.

3. Mangolini, L., et al., Nano Letters, 2005. 5(4): p. 655-659.