University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated

Wei David Wei

Jingjing Qiu

Yueming Zhai

Jiangeng Xue

Wenxiao Guo

Jiawei Huang

The present disclosure provides for methods for designing and constructing metal/semiconductor heterostructures as catalysts for a wide range of applications such as oxygen activation. In a particular aspect, the present disclosure provides for the manipulation of atomic structures at MJ/TiOinterface (e.g., Au/TiOinterface) that significantly alters the interfacial electron distribution and prompts Oactivation. In an aspect, the present disclosure provides for a M/TiOcomposites (e.g., heterostructures) having a N defect-free M/TiOinterface and method of making the M/TiOcomposites having a defect-free M/TiOinterface. The M can be Au, Ag, Cu, Al, Pt, Ni, or Pd, for example.

M/TiOcatalysts and methods of use

The present disclosure provides for metal nanoparticles, such as gold nanoparticles that have six pointed areas so that the metal nanoparticle resembles a six-pointed star. The distance from opposing points of the six-pointed star is about 400 to 480 nanometers. The present disclosure also provides for a method of making the nanoparticle, where in an aspect, the method is a light-driven synthesis.

Nanoparticles and methods of making nanoparticles

In one aspect, the present disclosure pertains to methods of making various noble metal nanoprisms, e.g., gold nanoprisms. In various aspects, the methods can comprise incubating, under dark conditions, a growth solution comprising: (a) a plurality of gold seed structures; (b) a gold precursor, and (c) a photocatalytic intermediary, such that during the incubating step multiply-twinned gold seed structures in the growth solution are preferentially enlarged. The disclosed methods can comprise separating the multiply-twinned gold seed structures from the growth solution based upon the size of the gold seed structures to produce an enriched growth solution. In some aspects, the methods comprise irradiating the enriched growth solution to produce the gold nanoprisms. In some aspects, the disclosed nanoprisms comprise silver.

Light-driven synthesis of plasmonic nanoparticles and nanomaterials

A photovoltaic system is formed as a window that is constructed of at least one polymer layer that is filled or decorated with metal nanoparticles and a window frame that includes one or more photovoltaic cells. The metal nanoparticles have a shape and size such that they display surface plasmon resonance frequencies in the near-infrared and/or the near-ultraviolet. The near-infrared and/or the near-ultraviolet radiations are scattered such that they are transmitted parallel to the face of the window to the photovoltaic cells, where an electrical current is generated.

Sunlight harvesting transparent windows

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide plasmonic structures, methods of making plasmonic structures, and the like.

Growing community of inventors

Gainesville, FL, United States of America

Wei David Wei