Plasmon-mediated Photochemical and Photophysical Processes

• Applicant: Dr. Silke Kirchner
• Subject Area: Physical Chemistry of Molecules, Liquids and Interfaces, Biophysical Chemistry ; Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
• Term: from 2016 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 310835233

My future scientific goal is the realization of a pivotal plasmonic methodology that allows an efficient CO2 reduction selectively to a particular solar fuel e.g., methanol, while suppressing unwanted products such as hydrogen. I propose a unique approach that combines plasmonics and photoelectrochemistry to overcome several important scientific challenges that hinder the effective production of solar fuels by CO2 reduction, such as the small thermodynamic potential differences between distinct CO2 reduction products, charge carrier recombination or low solar photon conversion.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: USA
• Host: Professor Harry Atwater, Ph.D.