ＲＩＴＥ− ＣＨＩＹＯＤＡ ＬＡＢＯＲＡＴＯＲＹ in Mitsubishi Research Institute,Inc.

In recent years, environment problems and energy problems are inseparably intertwined with each other. When we come to think of population growth and industrial developments in the next century, the development of clean energy is strongly called for in Japan. Based on this background, we have been involved with the research and development of photo-semiconductor catalysts.

The aim of this study is to develop the new semiconductor nano-particles for the effective photosensitization by the sunlight, namely effective energy conversion of Solar energy. For the current year, we plan to study the photochemical properties of ultrafine particles such as TiO2 or CdS for a visible light sensitive photocatalytic system. Since these catalysts have the ability to synthesize hydrogen through the photoelectrolysis of water, and also the capability to decompose nitrogen oxides (NOx). We expect them as a promising future materials.