The Department of Chemistry and the Biorefining Research Institute (BRI) tenure-track Research Chair in Chemocatalytic Biomass

DR. HAIGUANG ZHAO
Qingdao University (China)


Friday, November 29, 2019
UC 2001
1:30 pm


Nanomaterials for Sustainable Energy via Green Chemistry


Abstract: Discovering how to efficiently convert solar energy into electrical/chemical energy is one of humanity's greatest challenges in the 21st century in view of the ever-growing global hunger for renewable energy solutions. Current research directives in solar energy conversion are investigating new methods, and, in particular, new materials and processes that will render integrated and more efficient power harvesters from solar energy. The solar to electricity or hydrogen conversion efficiency of many organic, hybrid organic-inorganic, and inorganic devices are still low. And the long-term stability of the devices cannot meet the requirements for commercialization. In this talk, I will focus on the synthesis of nanomaterials via wet chemistry approach and use the materials for fabricating of solar energy conversion devices, including liquid junction solar cells, luminescent solar concentration and solar-driven water splitting for hydrogen production. In the end, I will introduce the fabrication of water splitting devices using biomass, highlighting the use of natural resources for sustainable energy harvesting.