A common Denominator in Catalysis, Photovoltaic and Electronic Applications: the role of interfaces

DIPC Seminars

Speaker: Carla Castellarin-Cudia,Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Italy
When: 2011/06/14
12:30
Place: Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC).Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal, 4 (nearby the Facultad de Quimica), Donostia
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A common Denominator in Catalysis, Photovoltaic and Electronic Applications: the role of interfaces

In new technologies development and in the associated base research, the study of interface properties plays a fundamental role. The interface behaviour of many systems is the base for a process to be successful or not. As a consequence, much effort is done on this kind of studies in each research field of material science: from organic to inorganic materials, from electronic to catalysis or photovoltaic applications. In the talk I will give three examples which put in evidence this aspect: the role of interface studies to understand reaction mechanisms and to find possible successful systems in very different fields. Specifically I will show some results on ceria/rhodium interface for catalysis applications, on catalyst/support interaction in carbon nanotubes growth in view of electronic applications and on charge transport properties at Zn¬tetraphenyl porphyrin/metal(semiconductor) interface in view of photovoltaic applications. The experimental results are obtained with several different techniques (STM, XPS, NEXAFS, ResPES etc.) dedicated to surface studies. Actually the importance of the interface properties have pushed the development of many techniques or maybe viceversa: the importance of these studies has been only recently understood because of the development of new techniques.