| NSF Org: |
CHE Division Of Chemistry |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | January 18, 2013 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | June 29, 2016 |
| Award Number: | 1255387 |
| Award Instrument: | Continuing Grant |
| Program Manager: |
George Janini
CHE Division Of Chemistry MPS Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences |
| Start Date: | February 1, 2013 |
| End Date: | January 31, 2020 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $650,000.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $686,782.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
FY 2014 = $382,294.00 FY 2016 = $16,835.00 |
| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
1664 N VIRGINIA ST # 285 RENO NV US 89557-0001 (775)784-4040 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
NV US 89503-0703 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): |
Macromolec/Supramolec/Nano, Other Global Learning & Trng |
| Primary Program Source: |
01001415DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 01001617DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT |
| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.049 |
ABSTRACT
Dr. Mario A. Alpuche-Aviles of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Nevada, Reno, is supported by a Career Award from the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry (MSN) program in the NSF Division of Chemistry. The research being conducted involves nanoparticle electron transfer reactions that are of importance in photocatalysis, a process that enables conversion of light into chemical energy. New approaches to their study are being developed with potential application in the design of more efficient energy conversion schemes based on photocatalysis of semiconductor nanoparticles in solution. The long-term goal of the project is to understand the interdependence between photocatalytic properties of semiconductor nanoparticles and nanoparticle size and shape. These photocatalytic properties will be determined from interactions between semiconductor nanoparticles and electrodes with diameter of a few micrometers or less. The work includes (1) measuring photoelectrochemical electron transfer rates of individual nanoparticles; (2) correlating the intrinsic nanoparticle activity with nanoparticle structure; (3) developing computer models of the interactions between colloidal nanoparticles and the working electrode. Subsequent refinements of the methodology will include studies of reactions that hinder efficiency because they compete with the desired photoelectrochemical reactions for energy conversion.
Dr. Alpuche will encourage students to consider careers in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields through the development of hands-on activities for K-12 level. This includes outreach to Hispanic population of Nevada with presentations at K-12 schools with large Hispanic populations.
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH
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PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
This Career Award from the Macromolecular, Supramolecular, and Nanochemistry (MSN) program in the NSF Division of Chemistry funded Mario A. Alpuiche-Aviles of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Nevada, Reno. The research involved nanoparticle electron transfer reactions that are important in photocatalysis, a process that enables the conversion of light into chemical energy. The group developed new approaches to their study with potential application in the design of more efficient energy conversion schemes based on photocatalysis of semiconductor nanoparticles in solution. These studies of photocatalytic properties involved issues of electrochemical reactivity at the nanoscale. The research in this proposal contributed to the field of single entity electrochemistry. To determine these properties, the group used the interactions between semiconductor nanoparticles, nanowires, and electrodes with a diameter of a few micrometers or less. The work achieved (1) measuring photoelectrochemical electron transfer contribution from individual nanoparticles in suspension [1]; (2) new insights into the effect of decorating NPs with a dye [2], and (3) analytical chemistry methods based on the reactivity of nanostructures, as well as new protocols to study the small currents measured in single nanoparticle electrochemical experiments [3]
[1] Fernando, A., Parajuli, S., and Alpuche-Aviles, M.A. (2013). Observation of individual semiconducting nanoparticle collisions by stochastic photoelectrochemical currents. Journal of the American Chemical Society 135, 10894-10897.
[2] Barakoti, K.K., Parajuli, S., Chhetri, P., Rana, G.R., Kazemi, R., Malkiewich, R., and Alpuche-Aviles, M.A. (2016). Stochastic electrochemistry and photoelectrochemistry of colloidal dye-sensitized anatase nanoparticles at a Pt ultramicroelectrode. Faraday Discussions 193, 313-325.
[3] Perera, N., Karunathilake, N., Chhetri, P., and Alpuche-Aviles, M.A. (2015). Electrochemical detection and sizing of colloidal ZnO nanoparticles. Analytical Chemistry 87, 777-784.
Dr. Alpuche encouraged students to consider careers in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields by developing hands-on activities for K-12 level and demonstrations to students in their classrooms or during visits to the UNR campus. These efforts included outreach to Nevada's Hispanic population with presentations at K-12 schools with large Hispanic populations.
Last Modified: 03/10/2021
Modified by: Mario Alpuche
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