Author Archives: Catherine Heyer

The atomic layer deposition of tetrakisdimethylamidotin(IV) and water on mesoporous thin films of nanocrystalline anatase TiO2, rutile SnO2, and rutile TiO2 was investigated. For all deposition conditions tested, highly oxygen deficient coatings were created, and purge time and temperature were … Read more

The reorganization energy, λ, for interfacial electron transfer (ET) and for proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) between a water oxidation catalyst and a conductive In2O3:Sn (ITO) oxide were extracted from kinetic data by application of Marcus–Gerischer theory. Specifically, light excitation of … Read more

The AMPED EFRC just achieved 3 major milestones in publications: 300th paper – complete list here h-Index of 62 More than 17,000 citations Major congratulations to all current and former Center members on your very impressive scientific accomplishments.    

Excited electron transfer across semiconductor-molecule heterogeneous interfaces is central to various future electronic and optoelectronic devices. At the same time, first-principles modeling of such dynamical processes remains as a great challenge in theoretical chemistry and condensed matter physics for developing … Read more

In artificial photosynthesis, the sun drives water splitting into H2 and O2 or converts CO2 into a useful form of carbon. In most schemes, water oxidation is typically the limiting half-reaction. Here, we introduce a molecular approach to the design … Read more

A comprehensive mechanistic study of electrocatalytic CO2 reduction by ruthenium 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (tpy) pyridyl-carbene catalysts reveals the importance of stereochemical control to locate the strongly donating N-heterocyclic carbene ligand trans to the site of CO2 activation.  Computational studies were undertaken to … Read more

AMPED EFRC graduate student Matthew Brady has been selected to receive a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) award.  Matt’s selection is in recognition of his outstanding academic accomplishments and the merit of the research … Read more

This paper describes the preparation and characterization of a photocathode assembly for CO2 reduction to CO in 0.1M LiClO4 acetonitrile. The assembly was formed on 1.0 µm thick mesoporous films of NiO using a layer-by-layer procedure based on Zr(IV)-phosphonate bridging … Read more

AMPED EFRC graduate student Leah Bowers is one of five 2019 recipients of the UNC University Award for the Advancement of Women. The award recognizes people on campus who have elevated the status of women, helped improve campus policies and … Read more

Halide photoredox chemistry is of both practical and fundamental interest. Practical applications have largely focused on solar energy conversion with hydrogen gas, through HX splitting, and electrical power generation, in regenerative photoelectrochemical and photovoltaic cells. On a more fundamental level, … Read more

A mesoporous atomic layer deposition (ALD) double-shell electrode, Al2O3 (insulating core)//ALD ZnO|ALD TiO2, on a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) conducting substrate was explored for a photoanode assembly, FTO//Al2O3 (insulating core)//ALD ZnO|ALD TiO2|–chromophore–catalyst, for light-driven water oxidation. Photocurrent densities at photoanodes based on … Read more

Surface passivation with fluorine atoms results in a significant slow down of hot electron relaxation because there exist particular electronic states that retain the hot electron for an extended time, and the relaxation time scale is largely influenced by shuttling … Read more

Congratulations to Jake Evans, undergraduate in the AMPED EFRC Photocathode Team, who has been awarded the 2019 David L. Stern Scholarship in Chemistry. This award is granted to the top students from upper division laboratory courses in chemistry at UNC … Read more

A Dye Sensitized Photoelectrosynthesis Cell (DSPEC) splits water with visible light using a derivatized core/shell nano-structured photoanode, with the core having a high surface area conductive metal oxide film — such as nanoITO (indium tin oxide) or nanoATO (antimony tin … Read more

Convergence research is a means of solving complex problems by integrating knowledge, and expertise from different disciplines and forming novel frameworks to catalyze scientific discovery and innovation.  By embracing convergence in scientific research, Carolina aims to tackle the world’s biggest … Read more