Basics of nanomaterials photochemistry - beginning in the academic year 2025/26

The first aim of the course is to give students an in-depth knowledge of the photochemistry of nanomaterials. Furthermore, students will develop an understanding of how to interpret and report measurements in the photochemistry of nanomaterials. Students will then develop an understanding of the working principles of modern applications based on the interaction of nanomaterials with solar radiation.

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Photochemistry is the study of the action of light on molecules and materials. Understanding photochemistry enables the explanation of light-driven phenomena in nature, such as vision, photosynthesis and photocatalysis, of materials or chemical reactions using fluorophores, imaging agents or time-dependent spectroscopy, and of the development of synthetic light-responsive systems to treat disease or produce solar fuels. Photochemistry is governed by quantum chemistry, excited states and orbitals. It covers 15 orders of magnitude of time ranging from femtoseconds in photon absorption to minutes or hours in photoreactions or phosphorescence.

Photochemistry is the study of the action of light on molecules and materials. Understanding photochemistry enables the explanation of light-driven phenomena in nature, such as vision, photosynthesis and photocatalysis, of materials or chemical reactions using fluorophores, imaging agents or time-dependent spectroscopy, and of the development of synthetic light-responsive systems to treat disease or produce solar fuels. Photochemistry is governed by quantum chemistry, excited states and orbitals. It covers 15 orders of magnitude of time ranging from femtoseconds in photon absorption to minutes or hours in photoreactions or phosphorescence.

Principles of photochemistry in nanomaterials
- Electromagnetic radiation
- Excited states
- Reaction/relaxation processes
- Direct and indirect photolysis
- Reactive transients
- Formation of reactive oxygen species
- Types of reactive oxygen species
- Superoxide anion radical
- Hydroxyl radical
- Singlet oxygen
- Fates of excited species
- Intra- and intermolecular energy transfer
- Kinetics in solid state photochemistry
- Quantum yields and orders
- Kinetics of the emission process
Fundamentals and unique properties of nanomaterials
- Definition of nanomaterials
- Behavior and fate of nanomaterials in the environment
- Interaction with light
- Recombination and defects
- Absorption
- Scattering
Solar energy harvesting and modern applications using nanomaterials
- Photovoltaics vs. photocatalysis
- Examples from photovoltaics
- Examples from photocatalysis
- Artificial photosynthesis
- Photosynthesis
- Z-scheme
- CO2 reduction
- Water splitting

• To understand the concept of excited state and to know the different methods available to represent them
• To have an overview of the different elementary processes that can occur following photon absorption by a molecule
• To be able to retrieve or calculate quantum yields from experimental data
• To interpret time-resolved absorption and emission spectroscopy data
• Gain knowledge about redox potentials in the ground and in the excited state
• To understand charge recombination and how to minimize it
• To understand photocatalytic reactions and mechanisms
• To understand the basics concept of artificial photosynthesis and solar fuel production
• To improve writing skills for scientific reports

Seminar on a specific topic also involving the reading of recent scientific papers. / Oral exam. 50/50

Prof. Dr. Nataša Novak Tušar has been Head of the Laboratory for Catalysts in the Department of Inorganic Chemistry and Technology at the National Institute of Chemistry in Ljubljana since 2022. After completing her PhD in chemistry at the University of Ljubljana, she was an Individual Marie Curie Fellow at the ELETTRA synchrotron and at the University of Trieste, Italy, from 2003 to 2004. Since 2018, she has been a full professor and head of the doctoral programme "Materials" at the University of Nova Gorica, Slovenia. She is a member of the governing bodies of ENMIX (European Nanoporous Materials Institute of Excellence) and EFCATS (European Federation of Catalysis Societies). She is a member of the editorial boards of the journals Catalysis communications and Frontiers in chemistry. She received the Award for Excellence in Science in 2021 from the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency. Her research interests include the design and development of catalysts/photocatalysts in heterogeneous catalysis for environmental and energy applications. Her particular focus is the chemistry of catalysts/photocatalysts for clean air.

Selected bibliography

1. SERRA-PÉREZ, Estrella, DRAŽIĆ, Goran, TAKASHIMA, Mai, OHTANI, Bunsho, KOVAČIČ, Sebastijan, ŽERJAV, Gregor, NOVAK TUŠAR, Nataša. Influence of the surface structure of the TiO2 support on the properties of the Au/TiO2 photocatalyst for water treatment under visible light. Catalysis today. Jul. 2024, vol. 437, [article no.] 114764, p. 1-10.
   IF=5.3

2. Klara, KOVAČIĆ, Marin, KRALJIĆ ROKOVIĆ, Marijana, KUŠIĆ, Hrvoje, GENORIO, Boštjan, LAVRENČIČ ŠTANGAR, Urška, NOVAK TUŠAR, Nataša, LONČARIĆ BOŽIĆ, Ana. Enhancement of TiO2-based composite with low carbon-based component ratio for improved hydrogen generation via photocatalytic water splitting. ChemNanoMat. 2024, [article no.] e202400121, p. 1-14.
   IF=3.8

3. ŠULIGOJ, Andraž, TRENDAFILOVA, Ivalina, MAVER, Ksenija, PINTAR, Albin, RISTIĆ, Alenka, DRAŽIĆ, Goran, ABDELRAHEEM, Wael H. M., JAGLIČIĆ, Zvonko, ARČON, Iztok, ZABUKOVEC LOGAR, Nataša, DIONYSIOU, Dionysios D., NOVAK TUŠAR, Nataša. Multicomponent Cu-Mn-Fe silica supported catalysts to stimulate photo-Fenton-like water treatment under sunlight. Journal of environmental chemical engineering. October. 2023, vol. 11, iss 5, [article no.] 110369, p. 1-11.
   IF=7.7

4. ŠULIGOJ, Andraž, CERC KOROŠEC, Romana, ŽERJAV, Gregor, NOVAK TUŠAR, Nataša, LAVRENČIČ ŠTANGAR, Urška. Solar-driven photocatalytic films: synthesis approaches, factors affecting environmental activity, and characterization features. Topics in current chemistry. 1 Oct. 2022, vol. 380, no. 6, p. 1-46.
   IF=8.6

5. ULLATTIL, Sanjay Gopal, ZAVAŠNIK, Janez, MAVER, Ksenija, FINŠGAR, Matjaž, NOVAK TUŠAR, Nataša, PINTAR, Albin. Defective grey TiO2 with minuscule anataserutile heterophase junctions for hydroxyl radicals formation in a visible light-triggered photocatalysis. Catalysts. [Online ed.]. 2021, vol. 11, vol. 12, p. 1500-1-1500-15.
   IF=4.5

6. ŠULIGOJ, Andraž, PAVLOVIĆ, Jelena, ARČON, Iztok, RAJIĆ, Nevenka, NOVAK TUŠAR, Nataša. SnO2-containing clinoptilolite as a composite photocatalyst for dyes removal from wastewater under solar light. Catalysts. [Online ed.]. Feb. 2020, vol. 10, no. 2, p. 1-18.
   IF=4.1

7. PLIEKHOVA, Olena, PLIEKHOV, Oleksii, FANETTI, Mattia, ARČON, Iztok, NOVAK TUŠAR, Nataša, LAVRENČIČ ŠTANGAR, Urška. Cu and Zr surface sites in photocatalytic activity of TiO2 nanoparticles: the effect of Zr distribution. Catalysis today. 15 May 2019, vol. 328, p. 105-110.
   IF=5.8

8. ŠULIGOJ, Andraž, ARČON, Iztok, MAZAJ, Matjaž, DRAŽIĆ, Goran, ARČON, Denis, COOL, Pegie, LAVRENČIČ ŠTANGAR, Urška, NOVAK TUŠAR, Nataša. Surface modified titanium dioxide using transition metals: nickel as a winning transition metal for solar light photocatalysis. Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for energy and sustainability. 7. Jun. 2018, vol. 6, iss. 21, p. 9882-9892.
   IF=10.7

9. PLIEKHOV, Oleksii, ARČON, Iztok, NOVAK TUŠAR, Nataša, LAVRENČIČ ŠTANGAR, Urška. Photocatalytic activity of zirconium- and manganese-codoped titania in aqueous media: the role of the metal dopant and its incorporation site. ChemCatChem. Jun. 2016, vol. 8, iss. 12, str. 2109-2118.
   IF=4.8

10. ŠULIGOJ, Andraž, LAVRENČIČ ŠTANGAR, Urška, RISTIĆ, Alenka, MAZAJ, Matjaž, VERHOVŠEK, Dejan, NOVAK TUŠAR, Nataša. TiO2−SiO2 films from organic-free colloidal TiO2 anatase nanoparticles as photocatalyst for removal of volatile organic compounds from indoor air. Applied catalysis. B, Environmental. May 2016, vol. 184, p. 119-131.
    IF=9.4