For students

Supervisor: dr hab. Paweł Głuchowski, prof. ILT&SR PAS

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Description:

The doctoral research will aim to develop a comprehensive understanding of the relationships among the structure of carbon dots (CDs), their electronic properties, and their performance in visible light photocatalytic processes. The study will begin with the controlled synthesis of CDs using various approaches, including hydrothermal, microwave-assisted, and pyrolytic methods, enabling precise control over particle size, degree of graphitization, and surface functionalization. Particular emphasis will be placed on targeted heteroatom doping and the development of complex hybrid systems with semiconductor materials, including TiO₂, ZnO, and g-C₃N₄, allowing for modulation of band structure and redox properties.

A key component of the doctoral work will be advanced physicochemical characterization, encompassing structural, spectroscopic, and electrochemical techniques. The analysis of energy levels, charge carrier recombination dynamics, and the presence of trap states will enable a quantitative correlation between material structure and optoelectronic properties. An important aspect will also be the identification of mechanisms responsible for the enhanced photocatalytic activity, including the extension of the catalytic response under visible-light excitation, charge transfer processes, and the involvement of reactive oxygen species.

The application-oriented studies will cover both the degradation of organic pollutants and more advanced processes, such as photocatalytic hydrogen production and CO₂ reduction. Overall, the project will aim to establish general design principles for carbon dot–based materials that enable controlled red-shifting of light absorption into the visible range and maximization of photocatalytic efficiency.