Enhancing photocatalysis with titanium chalcogenides

Energy and Analytics

Metal oxides and carbon for batteries and photocatalysts

CNTs, CNHs and metal oxides (zinc oxide, tungsten and molybdenum oxide as well as chalcogenides) serve as materials in anodes and cathodes for Li-ion batteries and rechargeable zinc/air batteries. Current research focusses on the materials chemistry of anode and cathodes, the cell set up as well as the electrochemistry of full battery cells. This needs to study and understand the interface (SEI) by unique approaches such as lithiation and surface functionalization of active electrode materials. In addition, new anodes as well as cathode architectures based on VACNT/oxide materials are in the focus.

In photocatalysis tailoring the semiconductor interface of carbon/metal chalcogenide composites to allow for fast electron conduction with low recombination rate is a challenge in materials and device architecturing.

Metals for SERS

Electron rich metals like gold and silver are ideally suited for the SERS effect. While enhancing their surface morphology by nanostructuring (e.g. creating architectures with intrinsically high hot spot areas, often in the nm size range) chemical modification allows for another route towards SERS materials with high enhancement factors. This gives SERS materials a new twist.

Micro Electronics

Electronic properties of inorganic oxides of group 13, 14 and 15 (etc. Zn, Al, In, Ga, Sn) can be tuned from dielectric to semiconducting to conducting behaviour. As thus they span the whole range of properties to use these oxides in electronic devices as metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structures (capacitors) as well as field effect transistors, FETs, or highly conducting oxide thin films. Often, they display a large band gap which makes them additionally attractive in flexible electronics applications due to their high optical transparency. We are developing solution phase routes using molecular precursors to achieve chimie-douce routes to such functional oxides which work at low temperatures and allow access to amorphous as well as crystalline functional oxides.

See our contributions:

  • N. Koslowski, V. Trouillet, J.J. Schneider “Solution-processed amorphous yttrium aluminium oxide YAlxOy and aluminum oxide AlxOy, their functional dielectric properties and performance in thin-film transistors”, J. Mater. Chem. C. , (2020), 8, 8521-8530
  • S. Okeil, M. Pashchanka, S. Heinschke, M. Bruns, J. J. Schneider “SERS enhancement of silver functionalized dense anodic aluminum oxide derived from iodine-based oxoacid electrolytes. Evidence for a combined physical and chemical enhancement effect”, J. Mater. Chem. C. , (2020), 124, 13316-13328 (front cover)
  • S. Okeil, S. Yadav, M. Bruns, A. Zintler, L. Molina-Luna, J. J. Schneider “Photothermal catalytic properties of layered titanium chalcogenide nanomaterials”, Dalton Trans., (2020), 49, 1032 (backside cover)
  • T. Herdt, D. Deckenbach, M. Bruns, J.J. Schneider “Tungsten oxide nanorod architectures as 3D anode material in lithium ion battery application”, Nanoscale, (2019), 11, 598-610
  • D. Dixon, D. J. Babu, A. Bhaskar, H.-M. Bruns, J. J. Schneider, F. Scheiba, H. Ehrenberg “Tuning the performance of vanadium redox flow batteries by modifying the structural defects of the carbon felt electrode”, Beilstein J. Nanotech. , (2019), 10, 1698–1706, doi:10.3762/bjnano.10.165
  • N. Koswlowski, S. Sanctis, R. W. Hoffmann, M. Bruns, J. J. Schneider “A single source precursor route to dielectric amorphous aluminium oxide. Solution synthesis, oxide formation electrical properties and application in a field effect transistor device”, J. Mater. Chem. C , (2019), 7, 1048-1056
  • N. Koslowski, R. C. Hoffmann, V. Trouillet, M. Bruns, S. Foro, J. J. Schneider “Synthesis, oxide formation, dielectric properties and thin film transistor properties of yttrium and aluminium oxide thin films employing a molecular based precursor route”, RSC Adv. , (2019), 9, 31386
  • N. Koswlowski, S. Sanctis, R. W. Hoffmann, M. Bruns, J. J. Schneider “A single source precursor route to dielectric amorphous aluminium oxide. Solution synthesis, oxide formation electrical properties and application in a field effect transistor device”, J. Mater. Chem. C, (2019), 7, 1048-1056
  • T. Herdt, M. Bruns, J.J. Schneider “Carbon coated molybdenum oxide nanorod arrays as binder-free 3D anode in lithium-ion batteries”, Dalton Trans. , (2018), 47, 14897-14907 (front cover)
  • S. Sanctis , J. Krausmann, C. Guhl, J. J. Schneider “Stacked indium oxide/zinc oxide heterostructures as semiconductors in thin film transistor devices: A case study using atomic layer deposition”, J. Mater. Chem. C , (2018), 6, 464 – 472
  • S. Sanctis, R. C. Hoffmann, M. Bruns, J. J. Schneider “Photopatterning of solution processed In/Sn and Zn/Sn oxide semiconductors – A molecular precursor approach to thin film electronics”, Adv. Mater. Interf., (2018), 5, 1800342 (inside cover)
  • S. Sanctis, R. C. Hoffmann, N. Koslowski, M. Bruns, J. J. Schneider “Aqueous solution processing of urea metal nitrates into amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide semiconductors for thin film transistor applications”, Chem. Asian J. , (2018), 13, 3912-3919
  • S. Okeil, I. Dönges, S. Pfleger, J. Krausmann, J.J. Schneider “ZnS/CNT Nanocomposites by gas phase conversion of ZnO/CNT composites and their photocatalytic properties”, Dalton Trans., (2017), 46, 5189-5201
  • N. Weidler, D.J. Babu, I. Martinaiou, S. Paul, S. Wagner, A. Shahraei, A. Janßen, R.W. Stark, Schneider, J.J., Kramm, U.I “Effect of Plasma Etching on the Activity and Selectivity of Me-N-C Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction”, ECS Trans. , (2017), 80(8), 691-700
  • S. Sanctis, N. Koslowski, R. Hoffmann, C. Guhl, E. Erdem, S. Weber , J. J. Schneider “Towards an understanding of thin film transistor performance in solution processed amorphous zinc-tin-oxide (ZTO) thin films”, ACS Appl. Chem. Interf. , (2017), 9, 21328–21337
  • R. C. Hoffmann, S. Sanctis, J. J. Schneider “Zinc complexes with tetradentate chelating Schiff base type ligands as precursors for ZnO nanoparticles: Microwave-assisted synthesis, electrophoretic deposition and field-effect transistor device properties”, Inorg. Chem. , (2017), 56, 7550–7557
  • S. Sanctis, R. C. Hoffmann, R. Precht, W. Anwand, J. J. Schneider “Understanding metal oxide transistor characteristics of low temperature molecular precursor derived amorphous indium zinc oxide”, J. Mater. Chem. C , (2016), 4, 10935-10944
  • R.C. Hoffmann, S. Sanctis, J.J. Schneider “Zinc diketonates as versatile single source precursors for ZnO nanoparticles: Microwave-assisted synthesis, electrophoretic deposition and field-effect transistor device properties”, J. Mater. Chem. C , (2016), 4, 7345-7352
  • R.C. Hoffmann, M. Kaloumenis, D. Spiehl, E. Erdem, S. Repp, S. Weber, J.J. Schneider “Microwave-assisted synthesis of high k-dielectric tantalum(V)oxide nanoparticles: Synthesis, dielectric properties and electron spin resonance spectroscopy”, Phys.Chem.Chem.Phys, (2015), 17, 31801 – 31809
  • V. Scherbahn, M.T. Putze, B. Dietzel, T. Heinlein, J. J. Schneider, F. Lisdat “Biofuel cells based on direct enzyme-electrode contacts using PQQ-dependent glucose dehydrogenase / bilirubin oxidase and modified carbon nanotube materials”, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, (2014), 61, 631–638
  • M. Pashchanka, J. Bang, N. S. A. Gora, I. Balog, R. C. Hoffmann, J. J. Schneider “Template based precursor route for the synthesis of CuInSe2 nanorod arrays for potential solar cell applications”, Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. , (2013), 4, 868-874
  • J. J. Schneider, M. Naumann “Photocatalytic activity of pure and Gd-doped nanostructured ceria”, Z. Allg. Anorg. Chem., (2012), 1562
  • L. Dimesso, C. Förster, W. Jaegermann, J. P. Khanderi, H. Tempel, A. Popp, J. Engstler, J. J. Schneider, A. Sarapulova, D. Mikhailova, L. A. Schmitt, S. Oswald, H. Ehrenberg “Developments in nanostructured LiMPO4 (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Mn) – three dimensional carbon architecture composites”, Chem. Soc. Rev., (2012), 41, 5068-5080