Methods and systems for the reduction of molecules using diamond as a photoreduction catalyst
AssigneeWisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
InventorsRobert J. Hamers, Di Zhu, Nigel Hajj Becknell
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Abstract
Methods for the photoreduction of molecules are provided. The methods use diamond having a negative electron affinity as a photocatalyst, taking advantage of its ability to act as a solid-state electron emitter that is capable of inducing reductions without the need for reactants to adsorb onto its surface. The methods comprise illuminating a fluid sample comprising the molecules to be reduced and hydrogen surface-terminated diamond having a negative electron affinity with light comprising a wavelength that induces the emission of electrons from the diamond directly into the fluid sample. The emitted electrons induce the reduction of the molecules to form a reduction product.
Claims18
A method for the photoreduction of molecules, the method comprising:
- (a) illuminating a fluid sample comprising the molecules to be reduced and hydrogen surface-terminated diamond having a negative electron affinity with light comprising a wavelength that excites electrons from the valence band of the diamond to the conduction band of the diamond, thereby inducing the emission of the excited electrons from the diamond into the fluid sample, wherein the emitted excited electrons induce the reduction of the molecules to form a reduction product, further wherein substantially all of the reduction product is formed via the emitted excited electrons;
- and
- (b) collecting the reduction product.
A method for the photoreduction of molecules, the method comprising:
- (a) illuminating a fluid sample comprising the molecules to be reduced and hydrogen surface-terminated diamond having a negative electron affinity with light comprising a wavelength that excites electrons from the valence band of the diamond to the conduction band of the diamond, thereby inducing the emission of the excited electrons from the diamond into the fluid sample, wherein the emitted excited electrons induce the reduction of the molecules to form a reduction product;
- and
- (b) collecting the reduction product;
- wherein the diamond is provided as an electrode immersed in the fluid sample, the electrode formed entirely from the diamond.
A method for the photoreduction of molecules, the method comprising:
- (a) illuminating a fluid sample comprising the molecules to be reduced and hydrogen surface-terminated diamond having a negative electron affinity with light comprising a wavelength that excites electrons from the valence band of the diamond to the conduction band of the diamond, thereby inducing the emission of the excited electrons from the diamond into the fluid sample, wherein the emitted excited electrons induce the reduction of the molecules to form a reduction product;
- and
- (b) collecting the reduction product;
- wherein the light is selected to maximize the photoemission efficiency of the diamond.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.