Analyzing Size and Structural Effects on Photocatalytic Efficiency of CdSe Nanoparticles
Emilio Aguilar, Chloe Peak, Kayla Lee
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Faculty Supervisor: Michael Enright
Growing concerns over climate change have driven the urgent need to transition from petroleum-based energy sources to renewable alternatives, increasing the demand for renewable carbon-based feedstocks to produce high-value commodity chemicals. Semiconductor nanoparticles, such as quantum dots and nanorods, have emerged as promising photocatalysts for driving organic transformations, including biomass valorization, a process that selectively cleaves specific bonds within lignin to extract valuable molecular components. In this study, we investigate the use of CdSe quantum dots and nanorods with varying sizes and morphologies for the photocatalytic degradation of biomass model substrates. The electronic properties and redox potentials of these nanomaterials can be precisely tuned by adjusting their size and surface chemistry, while their increased surface area compared to molecular catalysts enhances substrate interactions, electron transfer, and overall catalytic efficiency. To assess the influence of nanoparticle size and structure on photocatalytic performance, we compare a series of CdSe nanoparticles based on their surface area, crystal phase (zinc blende or wurtzite), and efficiency in selectively cleaving C–O bonds in model substrates that resemble biomass. Photocatalysis experiments incorporated different bandpass filters, and for one sample, varying light intensities were also explored to assess their impact on catalytic efficiency. This study provides insights into the structure-activity relationship of CdSe nanomaterials for biomass valorization and demonstrates how differences in nanoparticle size and morphology influence their photocatalytic performance.