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Two major issues facing humanity are developing alternative energy generation and water supply remediation. My research program will utilize spectroscopic techniques to study emerging materials that have applications in energy science and green chemistry. Projects will include optimizing solar cells’ efficiencies and the pollutant degradation ability of different constructs of MoS₂.

MoS₂ Quantum Dots as a Photosensitizer for TiO₂

Dye-sensitized metal oxide solar cells have been employed as a method of transforming the light emitted from the sun into electricity but suffer from photodegradation and require complicated syntheses. To combat this issue, I propose to use MoS₂ quantum dots (QDs) as photosensitizer since it also has superb light absorption and tunability but does not decompose under sunlight or require a complicated synthesis.

Pollutant Degradation Using Mo_xW_1-xS₂

Industrial waste has deposited organic pollutants into our water supply, which necessitates efforts in developing catalysts with the ability to degrade these pollutants. MoS₂ is a material previously used for this purpose, however, modified versions, such as MoS₂ in a heterostructure, have been shown enhanced photodegradation. My proposed work aims to use a mixed-transition metal dichalcogenide, Mo_xW_1-xS₂, as a catalyst for efficient model pollutant degradation of Rhodamine B and methylene blue.