Secondment to the University of Tokyo

From October 15 to November 30, 2023, Dr. Bhavana Gupta was on secondment at the University of Tokyo to explore advanced facilities for evaluating photocatalyst efficiency in water splitting and understanding the underlying mechanisms.

During her stay, she conducted experiments on photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis to assess the efficiency of photoanodes, photocathodes, and photoactive materials. Characterization tools were used to analyze the impact of cocatalyst deposition, which enhanced charge carrier separation and improved water-splitting efficiency. These findings provide valuable insights for future publications.

Dr. Gupta also visited the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Tsukuba, Japan, to discuss theoretical studies on charge dynamics in photocatalysis for potential collaboration. Additionally, she toured a pilot plant employing oxynitride photocatalysts for large-scale hydrogen production, gaining insight into the challenges of increasing efficiency from 1% to 4% for commercialization.

Dates

15 October to 30 November, 2023

Location:

University of Tokyo, Japan