Abstract

In the optofluidics group at the Cavendish Laboratory, Dr Alexander Gentleman and colleagues have developed multiple setups utilising optofluidic hollow-core photonic crystal fibers (HC-PCFs) to investigate the intricate details underlying photocatalytic systems.

The group aims to gain more insight into the electron transfer kinetics of photosensitisers (PSs); a key component comprising photocatalytic systems utilised in solar fuel production. One particular type of PS of interest to the group are carbon nanodots (CNDs), which are proposed as next-generation PSs due to their unique advantages over conventionally-implemented PSs, such as scalability, biocompatibility, water solubility, and stable optical properties, together with being effective light-harvesters in photocatalytic systems for solar fuel production.

In this seminar, Dr Gentleman will discuss his results in detail, in addition to presenting some additional work on other photocalaytic systems of interest.