Title: Photocatalytic Systems for Solar Energy Utilization

Abstract

The development of efficient photocatalytic systems for solar energy utilization is a key scientific and technological challenge in the context of sustainable energy production and environmental protection. This presentation will focus on my research activities in the design of molecular, hybrid, and heterogeneous photocatalytic systems for solar- driven hydrogen production and carbon dioxide reduction.

The talk will first introduce representative homogeneous photocatalytic systems combining organic and organometallic chromophores with earth-abundant molecular catalysts based on cobalt, iron, and nickel. These systems demonstrate high activity and selectivity for hydrogen production and CO₂ to CO conversion, while enabling detailed mechanistic studies of photoinduced charge transfer and catalytic pathways.

Subsequently, I will present heterogeneous and self-assembled photocatalytic architectures, with emphasis on the role of nanoscale organization and interfacial structure in controlling stability and catalytic performance. Dye-sensitized photocatalytic systems (DSPs) will be discussed as a versatile and scalable platform, in which semiconductor nanoparticles functionalized with photosensitizers and catalysts enable efficient visible-light-driven reactions. A key example that will be highlighted is a DSP capable of simultaneous H2 evolution and selective organic oxidation, eliminating the need for sacrificial electron donors.

The final part of the presentation will outline my future research plan, focused on the development of cost-effective and sustainable photocatalytic technologies. Planned directions include the replacement of noble-metal-based components with low-cost organic chromophores and transition-metal catalysts, the design of advanced systems for multi-electron CO₂ reduction toward higher-energy-density fuels, and the development of photoelectrochemical architectures for unbiased solar-driven reactions.