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Note: Bachelor degree in chemistry, physics or equivalent; lecture handouts, papers for the tutorials and organizational material will be available on the moodle website, which will be accessible after registration for the lecture. The first lecture, which serves as a preliminary discussion, is scheduled for April 17, 2024 at 9 am (c.t.) in the seminar room <i>CH 22209</i> in the Chemistry building.

At the end of this lecture, students understand fundamental chemical and physical principles, which build the basis for photocatalysis. They have expertise in the interpretation of photocatalytic systems and common analytical techniques applied in this field. Eventually, the students have acquired a comprehensive knowledge, which enables them the evaluation of results from the literature and planning of photocatalytic experiments.

The lecture is focused on the mechanistic aspects and analytic techniques in photocatalysis, particularly in heterogeneous photocatalysis. Within this course, the students gain expertise in different fields of chemistry as well as physics. They learn how thermodynamics and kinetics, semiconductor physics and spectroscopy contribute to the understanding of photocatalytic systems. The lecture also covers relevant characterization techniques and different photocatalytic systems are discussed, illustrated on selected examples. The course addresses systems and reactions, which are considered as prospective for future applications in the generation of renewable fuels. Organic photocatalysts applied in the synthesis of advanced organic substances are not considered.

The understanding of basic concepts of chemical kinetics and thermodynamics as well as of molecular spectroscopy (in particular vibrational and electronic spectroscopy) is prerequisite for this lecture. While not absolutely required, a basic knowledge of analytical techniques (gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, IR spectroscopy) will be advantageous.

Lecture with exercises: The subject is taught as a lecture. The students are expected to actively participate at the corresponding tutorials to achieve a lively interaction between the students and the lecturer. The students will present and discuss recent results from literature with the teaching assistants and the instructor.

The understanding of the concepts in this lecture is assessed by a written exam, which may alternatively be given as an oral exam.