About us
Espace utilisateur
Education
INSTN offers more than 40 diplomas from operator level to post-graduate degree level. 30% of our students are international students.
Professionnal development
Professionnal development
Find a training course
INSTN delivers off-the-self or tailor-made training courses to support the operational excellence of your talents.
Human capital solutions
At INSTN, we are committed to providing our partners with the best human capital solutions to develop and deliver safe & sustainable projects.
Thesis
Home   /   Thesis   /   Functionalized aluminosilicate nanotubes for photocatalysis

Functionalized aluminosilicate nanotubes for photocatalysis

Chemistry Condensed matter physics, chemistry & nanosciences Radiation-matter interactions

Abstract

Rising energy demand and the need to reduce the use of fossil fuels to limit global warming have created an urgent need for clean energy collection technologies. One interesting solution is to use solar energy to produce fuels. Low-cost materials such as semiconductors have been the focus of numerous studies for photocatalytic reactions. Among them, 1D nanostructures are promising because of their interesting properties (high and accessible specific surface areas, confined environments, long-distance electron transport and facilitated charge separation). Imogolite, a natural hollow nanotubes clay, belongs to this category. Its particularity does not lies in its chemical composition (Al, O and Si) but in its intrinsic curvature, which induces a permanent polarization of the wall, effectively separating photo-induced charges. Several modifications of these materials are possible (coupling with metal nanoparticles, functionalization of the internal cavity), enabling their properties to be modulated.We have demonstrated that this clay is a nanoreactor for photocatalytic reactions (H2 production and CO2 reduction) under UV illumination. In order to obtain a useful photocatalyst, it is necessary to extend photon collection into the visible range. One strategy considered is to encapsulate and covalently graft dyes acting as antennae in the cavity. The aim of this thesis is to synthesize imogolites with different internal functionalizations, to study the encapsulation and grafting of dyes into the cavity of these functionalized imogolites, and finally to study the photocatalytic properties.

Laboratory

Institut rayonnement et matière de Saclay
Service Nanosciences et Innovation pour les Materiaux, la Biomédecine et l’Energie
Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire sur l’Organisation Nanométrique et Supramoléculaire
Paris-Saclay
Top envelopegraduation-hatlicensebookuserusersmap-markercalendar-fullbubblecrossmenuarrow-down