Ian D. Sharp
Functional Semiconductors and Catalysts
Our group synthesizes and investigates semiconductors and catalysts, as well as their combinations, for applications in renewable energy conversion. A current emphasis of our research is on the discovery and development of materials and assemblies that are optimized for efficient, selective and robust generation of fuels from sunlight. We use a variety of advanced deposition approaches to precisely control the composition, structure, and phase of materials in order control functional properties of photocatalytic systems. To elucidate photocarrier dynamics and chemical transformations occurring at the interfaces of these materials in reactive environments, we utilize a suite of spectroscopic and microscopic characterization tools. Insights gained from these mechanistic studies are used to develop advanced photochemical conversion systems with improved efficiency and selectivity.
Key publications:
Practical challenges in the development of photoelectrochemical solar fuels production, M. T. Spitler, M. A. Modestino, T. Deutsch, C. Xiang, J. Durrant, D. V. Esposito, S. Haussener, S. Maldonado, I. D. Sharp, B. A. Parkinson, D. S. Ginley, F. A. Houle, T. Hannappel, N. R. Neale, D. G. Nocera, P. C. McIntyre, Sustainable Energy Fuels 2020, 4, 985–995.
Hybrid photoelectrochemical and photovoltaic cells for simultaneous production of chemical fuels and electrical power, G. Segev, J. W. Beeman, J. B. Greenblatt, I. D. Sharp, Nat. Mater. 2018, 17, 1115–1121.
Nanoscale imaging of charge carrier transport limitations in BiVO4 photoanodes, J. Eichhorn, C. Kastl, J. K. Cooper, D. Ziegler, A. M. Schwartzberg, I. D. Sharp, F. M. Toma, Nat. Commun. 2018, 9, 2597.
Composition-Dependent Functionality of Copper Vanadate Photoanodes, C.-M. Jiang, G. Segev, L. H. Hess, G. Liu, G. Zaborski, F. M. Toma, J. K. Cooper, I. D. Sharp, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2018, 10, 10627–10633.
Quantification of the loss mechanisms in emerging water splitting photoanodes through empirical extraction of the spatial charge collection efficiency, G. Segev, C.-M- Jiang, J. K. Cooper, I. D. Sharp, Energy Environ. Sci. 2018, 11, 904–913.
Press releases: