High Pressure Synthesis of Novel Oxynitride Photocatalysis
Although materials synthesis at high pressure has the potential to produce unprecedented and transformative materials, traditional approaches are specialized and labor-intensive, with comparatively low rates of throughput and discovery. By integrating theory, synthesis, and property measurements at Stony Brook with the nation's synchrotron X-ray and neutron facilities, this project aims to unlock the potential of high pressure as a routine tool for solid-state materials discovery. Computational search will provide lists of target compositions along with their predicted properties. These targets can be synthesized using high throughput techniques prior to precise determinations of electronic and catalytic properties. These results constitute a feedback loop that provides insight into better predictive capability. This strategy is particularly suitable in the search for oxynitride photocatalysts for use in hydrogen production from sunlight and water. The application of pressure favors the formation of solids rather than competing reactions that result in breakdown to gaseous products, oxygen and nitrogen. The recent development of active nano-gold co-catalysts allows the team rapidly test the activity of even small amounts of recovered material.