Doping gradient-based photocatalysis
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of Michigan
InventorsZetian Mi, Yongjie Wang, Faqrul A. Chowdhury
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Abstract
A photocatalytic device includes a substrate having a surface, and an array of conductive projections supported by the substrate and extending outward from the surface of the substrate. Each conductive projection of the array of conductive projections has a semiconductor composition. The semiconductor composition establishes a photochemical diode. The surface may be nonplanar such that subsets of the array of conductive projections are oriented at different angles.
Claims22
A photocatalytic device comprising:
- a substrate having a surface;
- and
- an array of conductive projections supported by the substrate and extending outward from the surface of the substrate, each conductive projection of the array of conductive projections having a semiconductor composition, the semiconductor composition establishing a photochemical diode;
- wherein the surface is nonplanar such that subsets of the array of conductive projections are oriented at different angles.
A photocatalytic system comprising:
- a container in which water is disposed;
- and
- a semiconductor device immersed in the water;
- wherein the semiconductor device comprises:
- a substrate having a pyramidal textured surface;
- and
- an array of nanostructures supported by the substrate and extending outward from the pyramidal textured surface of the substrate, each nanostructure of the array of nanostructures having a semiconductor composition, the semiconductor composition establishing a photochemical diode;
- wherein the pyramidal textured surface orients subsets of the array of nanostructures at different angles.
A method of fabricating a photocatalytic semiconductor device, the method comprising:
- providing a substrate having a surface;
- and
- forming an array of nanostructures on the surface of the substrate such that each nanostructure of the array of nanostructures extends outward from the surface of the substrate, each nanostructure of the array of nanostructures having a semiconductor composition, the semiconductor composition establishing a photochemical diode;
- wherein the surface is nonplanar such that subsets of the array of nanostructures are oriented at different angles.
A photocatalytic device comprising:
- a substrate having a surface;
- and
- an array of conductive projections supported by the substrate and extending outward from the surface of the substrate, each conductive projection of the array of conductive projections having a semiconductor composition, the semiconductor composition establishing a photochemical diode;
- wherein:
- each conductive projection comprises a cylindrically shaped nanostructure, and
- the semiconductor composition comprises a lateral doping gradient.
A method of fabricating a photocatalytic semiconductor device, the method comprising:
- providing a substrate having a surface;
- and
- forming an array of nanostructures on the surface of the substrate such that each nanostructure of the array of nanostructures extends outward from the surface of the substrate, each nanostructure of the array of nanostructures having a semiconductor composition, the semiconductor composition establishing a photochemical diode;
- wherein forming the array of nanostructures comprises implementing a molecular beam epitaxy procedure in which the substrate is rotated, and
- wherein the semiconductor composition comprises a lateral doping gradient.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.