April 7 - 11, 2025
Seattle, Washington
Symposium Supporters
2025 MRS Spring Meeting & Exhibit
EL16.02.01

Revolutionary Sustainable Energy Production Through Piezocatalysis

When and Where

Apr 8, 2025
1:30pm - 2:00pm
Summit, Level 4, Room 437

Presenter(s)

Co-Author(s)

Jyh Ming Wu1,Hsun-Yen Lin1

National Tsing Hua University1

Abstract

Jyh Ming Wu1,Hsun-Yen Lin1

National Tsing Hua University1
Hydrogen is the most abundant element on Earth and serves as a safe, efficient energy source. Through processes like electrocatalysis and photocatalysis, water molecules can be split into oxygen (O2) and hydrogen (H2), which can then be used as fuel. This method has been extensively studied as a promising approach to reduce CO2 emissions and decrease reliance on fossil fuels. One area of ongoing research involves solar-assisted electrochemical processes that generate hydrogen without producing toxic byproducts. Solutions addressing water pollution remediation, water splitting, and clean energy alternatives have been widely explored. However, most semiconducting photocatalysts are inefficient in water-based solutions due to their low quantum yield. In this talk, I will discuss how piezocatalysts can enhance electrochemical reactions, leading to more efficient wastewater treatment and hydrogen production. Theoretical calculations suggest that ferroelectric components can create inner electric fields at interfacial phase boundaries, moderating free carriers and improving charge separation in ferroelectric piezocatalysts. When external mechanical force is applied in conjunction with photoirradiation, the combination of photoinduced charge separation and piezoelectric polarization enhances charge transport at trapping sites. Additionally, I will provide an overview of recent advancements in piezocatalysts, particularly those involving 2D materials and ferroelectric domains. These advancements, such as the MoS2@Mo2CTx system, show promise for sustainable energy production, including hydrogen evolution reactions (HER). These concepts represent significant progress toward designing next-generation piezo-photocatalysts, with the potential to be driven by natural forces like gravity.

Keywords

2D materials | chemical synthesis | hydrogenation

Symposium Organizers

Xudong Wang, University of Wisconsin--Madison
Miso Kim, Sungkyunkwan University
Wenzhuo Wu, Purdue University
Till Fromling, Technical University of Darmstadt

Symposium Support

Bronze
APL Electronic Devices

Session Chairs

Xudong Wang
Wenzhuo Wu

In this Session