Fundamental Understanding of Photocatalysis and Photoelectrocatalysis for Solar Fuel Production
Abstract
This lecture presents the research progress on solar fuel productions from photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis (PEC) processes with the emphasis on the fundamental understanding. Solar fuel production currently is mainly refereeing the hydrogen production via overall water splitting and chemical fuels production through artificial photosynthesis, namely the reaction of H2O + CO2. These reactions have been regarded as the most important and promising strategy to meet the demand of human society for sustainability. Extensive efforts have been made in developing the efficient photoelectrochemical systems for these reactions, including mainly semiconductor based photocatalysts, molecular photocatalysts and hybrid of nature and artificial photosynthesis systems.
About the speaker
Prof. Li Can received his PhD from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1988. He was postdoctoral fellow and visiting professor at Northwestern University. He was promoted to a Full Professor at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics in 1993, and is currently Director of the State Key Laboratory of Catalysis. He is also Director of the Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy.
Prof. Li’s research interests include environmental catalysis, chiral catalysis, photocatalysis, In-situ characterization of catalysts, resonance and time-resolved spectroscopy. He has been studying catalysis and materials at molecular level and making effort to reveal the essential relationship between catalytic performance and the catalyst structure. He has applied these understandings of the fundamental principles of catalysis to the design and development of more selective and active catalysts for practical applications in energy, fine chemicals and environmental industries. He has published more than 500 peer-reviewed papers with over 10,000 citations, and granted 50 patents.
Prof. Li received numerous awards including the National Award for Natural Sciences of China, the International Catalysis Award, the Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation Prize, and the National Award for Outstanding Young Scientists in China, etc. He is a Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Academia Europaea, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
