Quaternary Metal Oxide Investigation for Water Splitting
Mentor 1
Jennifer Schuttlefield-Christus
Location
Union Wisconsin Room
Start Date
24-4-2015 2:30 PM
End Date
24-4-2015 3:45 PM
Description
The quaternary metal oxide semiconductors were investigated as potential catalysts for water splitting. Specifically, the efficiency of a known three metal oxide combination composed of aluminum, nickel, and iron was examined as a catalyst for water oxidation when a fourth metal was added to the combination. To detect the oxygen evolution of the various combinations, the Heterogeneous Anodes Rapidly Perused for Oxygen (O2) Overpotential Neutralization (HARPOON) kit was used. The HARPOON kit uses a stainless steel mesh coated with paint that contains two fluorophores, one of which is sensitive to O2 and the other insensitive to O2. The ratio of response to the two fluorophores is plotted on a false color map, where the brightest spots correspond to the high concentration of oxygen evolved. Spots that correlate to the catalysts where the highest concentration of oxygen evolved are of the most interest. To date, the addition of the metals molybdenum and cobalt enriched oxygen generation in the aluminum, nickel, iron combination. Further tests are underway to determine the long term response of the materials to simulated solar irradiation.
Quaternary Metal Oxide Investigation for Water Splitting
Union Wisconsin Room
The quaternary metal oxide semiconductors were investigated as potential catalysts for water splitting. Specifically, the efficiency of a known three metal oxide combination composed of aluminum, nickel, and iron was examined as a catalyst for water oxidation when a fourth metal was added to the combination. To detect the oxygen evolution of the various combinations, the Heterogeneous Anodes Rapidly Perused for Oxygen (O2) Overpotential Neutralization (HARPOON) kit was used. The HARPOON kit uses a stainless steel mesh coated with paint that contains two fluorophores, one of which is sensitive to O2 and the other insensitive to O2. The ratio of response to the two fluorophores is plotted on a false color map, where the brightest spots correspond to the high concentration of oxygen evolved. Spots that correlate to the catalysts where the highest concentration of oxygen evolved are of the most interest. To date, the addition of the metals molybdenum and cobalt enriched oxygen generation in the aluminum, nickel, iron combination. Further tests are underway to determine the long term response of the materials to simulated solar irradiation.
