In 1972, Fujishima and Honda reported the use of TiO2 as a semiconductor photocatalyst to split water using the energy of light. Since that time, scientists have been searching for other photocatalytic materials with band gap energies better suited to the solar spectrum and that do not photocorrode in aqueous solution. Discovering the ideal photocatalytic material would enable the use of solar energy to prepare hydrogen �cleanly� from water and provide a carbon-free, renewable source of solar fuel. Towards this ultimate goal, we will present a low-cost way to prepare and screen small compositional libraries of mixed metal oxides for photocatalytic activity using a SHArK (Solar Hydrogen Activity Research Kit). This method has been applied to identify several mixed metal oxide libraries based on molybdenum and tungsten with promising photocatalytic responses.  Bulk samples of these compositions were prepared to characterize the phases by X-ray powder diffraction.  Further characterization of the photocatlytic activity of selected compositions was conducted by methylene blue degradation studies.

SHArKs and laser beams: The search for new molybdates and tungstates to split water using sunlight

245th National Meeting (2013)

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