Photocatalysis · Analytical Instrumentation
Visible-Light Photocatalysis for Water Splitting
Studied metal-free, visible-light-active conjugated polymer photocatalysts for water splitting and developed a low-cost hydrogen detection workflow.
Overview
This project investigated metal-free conjugated polymer photocatalysts for visible-light-driven water splitting. The work connected photocatalyst design requirements, visible-light absorption, hydrogen evolution measurement, and practical analytical instrumentation.
My role
I tested visible-light-active conjugated polymer photocatalysts for water-splitting activity and developed a cost-effective hydrogen detection setup when conventional gas chromatography with a thermal conductivity detector was not available.
Key outcomes
- Evaluated metal-free conjugated polymer photocatalysts under visible-light irradiation.
- Developed a low-cost hydrogen detection workflow using an Arduino microcontroller and custom-made code, MQ-8 hydrogen sensors, and custom data-processing software.
- Built an experimental setup connecting LED irradiation, aqueous photocatalyst testing, and sensor-based gas detection.
- Gained early experience translating an instrumentation limitation into a practical measurement solution.