(594g) Biomineralized Metal Chalcogenide Quantum Dot/Rgo Photocatalysts for Water Splitting

Metal chalcogenide quantum dots (QDs) are promising materials for light harvesting in photocatlytic water splitting. However, these materials are typically synthesized through high temperature, multi-step processes that utilize organic solvents and expensive precursors. These factors increase the complexity and economic and environmental costs of manufacturing scale-up, especially when we consider the desired scale of photocatalytic hydrogen production. In contrast, biomineralization, the process by which biological systems produce structural nanomaterials, occurs under ambient conditions in aqueous media utilizing the available precursors. We have developed routes to adapt these biological processes to the direct, scalable, size-controlled synthesis of metal chalcogenide quantum dots in numerous forms; from single component materials, to alloys, and core-shell heterostructures. We have also developed an analogous route to the synthesis of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) utilizing biologically generate reductant. In combination, these routes enable biofabrication of highly active QD/rGO photocatalysts. This presentation will cover the origin of size control in this synthesis process, the optimization of the biomineralization processes and QD-rGO linker molecules, and demonstrate the activity of the resulting photocatalyst for solar hydrogen generation.