Oxide Nanoparticles for Hydrogen Production from Water-Splitting and Catalytic Oxidation of Diesel Exhaust Emissions

In the present work the synthesis of nanostructured redox materials targeted to two different environmental applications, is discussed. The method that was employed for the synthesis of the redox materials was based on an aerosol route (Aerosol Spray Pyrolysis). A base metal oxide was employed for the mapping of the conditions that affect the size of the final product. Transition-metal-doped ferrites and base metal-doped cerium oxide were further synthesized in order to be applied in hydrogen production through solar water splitting and in catalytic soot oxidation respectively. The produced powders were characterized with respect to their phase composition, morphology and particle size by X-ray Diffraction (XRD Siemens D500/501), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM JEOL JSM-6300) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM JEOL JEM 2010) analysis, which have confirmed their nanostructured character. Doped ferrites were evaluated, with respect to their hydrogen production activity from water dissociation. Doped cerium oxides were evaluated with respect to their direct soot oxidation activity. Finally, Aerosol Spray Pyrolysis was employed for the synthesis of surface decorated porous oxide particles with high surface area and tailored characteristics that have the potential of multifunctional operations in the area of clean energy.