Laboratory for Photoelectrochemistry and Solar Energy Conversion

Profile

Prof.  Jan Augustyński
e-mail: j.augustynski@cent.uw.edu.pl
phone: +48 22 55 43710
room: 02.168
ORCID: 0000-0002-2043-9489
SCOPUS ID: 7004126963

The research conducted in our group is devoted to the study of the interactions of semiconducting materials and metallic nanostructures with light. The investigations focus principally on photo-electrochemical properties of thin-layer semiconducting oxide electrodes, such as tungsten trioxide (WO3) or ferric oxide (Fe2O3) that are employed to split water or decompose contaminants present in water.

In both cases, the photo-electrolysis leads to the formation of hydrogen on the cathode of the cell. Thanks to the light absorption by the semiconducting electrodes, the photo-electrolysis takes place under bias voltages lower than the theoretical value for decomposition of water (1.23 V). The solar-to-chemical energy conversion efficiency relies critically on the composition and preparation method of the semiconducting electrodes; to unable the use of a significant part of the solar spectrum, the employed semiconductors have to have band gap energies in the range of 2 to 2.5 eV.

The short presentation attached below shows the highlights of recent (over the period 2018-2020) research conducted in our laboratory within the framework of the Maestro project.

Equipment:

• Potentiostats: Autolab AUT86128; Biologic SP300; CHI Mod. 660E;
• 450 W xenon lamp set in an Oriel 66021 housing and Oriel Multispec 257 monochromator;
• Laser Diode Module, 405 nm;
• Solar 150 W Simulators Oriel – Mod. 68806;
• Electrochemical Workstation Zahner;
• Scanning Probe Microscope SECM-063;
• Spectrophotometr Jasco V-650;
• Glovebox Workstation, Labstar, Mbraun, 10344.

Leader

After having obtained the PhD degree from the Polytechnic Institute of Grenoble in France in 1970, Jan Augustynski acted over several years as lecturer-group leader and professor of chemistry at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. His research interests comprise passivity of metals, electrocatalysis and photo-electrochemistry with special focus on nanostructured materials. Back in Poland, he received Polish professor title in 2009. Since 2011 J.A. has been with the Center for New Technologies Warsaw University where he is head of the Laboratory of photo-electrochemistry and solar energy conversion.

Jan Augustynski lead Warsaw University contributions to two European research projects (within the framework of FP7) on photo-electrochemical energy conversion and solar hydrogen production: Nanopec (2007-2009) and Solarogenix (2013-2016).

J.A. is the author of 170 publications that received 5711 citations.

Team

Leader
Prof. Jan Augustyński

Postdoc
Katarzyna Jakubów-Piotrowska, PhD

Selected projects

Selected publications

• Jakubow-Piotrowska, K., Witkowski, B., Augustynski, J.
  Photoelectrocatalytic hydrogen generation coupled with reforming of glucose into valuable chemicals using a nanostructured WO3 photoanode
  (2022) Communications Chemistry, 5, 125.
  DOI: 10.1038/s42004-022-00745-w
• Jakubow-Piotrowska, K., Kurzydlowski, D., Wrobel, P., Augustynski, J.
  Photoelectrochemical behavior of WO3 in an aqueous methanesulfonic acid electrolyte.
  (2022) Optical Engineering, 63 (4), art. no. 041209
  DOI: 10.1021/acsphyschemau.2c00009
• Gouda, A., Liu, T., Byers, J. C., Augustynski, J., & Santato, C.
  Best practices in photoelectrochemistry
  (2021) Journal of Power Sources, 482, 228958.
  DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2020.228958
• Barczuk, P.J., Noworyta, K.R., Dolata, M., Jakubow-Piotrowska, K. & Augustynski, J.
  Visible-light activation of low-cost rutile TiO2 photoanodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting
  (2020) Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 208, 110424.
  DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2020.110424
• Jadwiszczak, M., Jakubow‐Piotrowska, K., Kedzierzawski, P., Bienkowski, K., & Augustynski, J.
  Highly efficient sunlight-driven seawater splitting in a photo-electrochemical cell with chlorine evolved at nanostructured WO3 photo-anode and hydrogen stored as hydride within metallic cathode
  (2019) Advanced Energy Materials, 10(3), 1903213
  DOI:10.1002/aenm.201903213
• Krysiak, O. A., Barczuk, P. J., Bienkowski, K., Wojciechowski, T., Augustynski, J.
  The photocatalytic activity of rutile and anatase TiO2 electrodes modified with plasmonic metal nanoparticles followed by photoelectrochemical measurements
  (2019) Catalysis Today, 321-322, 52-58.
  DOI: 10.1016/j.cattod.2018.01.007
• Jadwiszczak, M., Jakubow‐Piotrowska, K., Kedzierzawski, P., Bienkowski, K., & Augustynski, J.
  Highly Efficient Sunlight‐Driven Seawater Splitting in a Photoelectrochemical Cell with Chlorine Evolved at Nanostructured WO3 Photoanode and Hydrogen Stored as Hydride within Metallic Cathode
  (2019). Adv. Energy. Mater. 10(3), 1903213.
  DOI:10.1002/aenm.201903213
• Krysiak, O. A., Cichowicz, G., Conzuelo, F., Cyranski, M. K., & Augustynski J.
  Ni-Fe-Cr-Oxides: An Efficient Catalyst Activated by Visible Light for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction
  (2020). Zeitschrift für Physikalische Chemie, 234(4), 633-643.
  DOI:10.1515/zpch-2019-1431
• Jelinska, A. Bienkowski, K. Jadwiszczak, M. Pisarek, M. Strawski, M. Kurzydlowski, D. Solarska, R. & Augustynski, J.
  Enhanced Photocatalytic Water Splitting on Very Thin WO3 Films Activated by High-Temperature Annealing
  (2018). ACS Catalysis, 8 (11), 10573-10580.
  DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.8b03497
• Krysiak, O. A., Barczuk, P. J., Bienkowski, K., Wojciechowski, T., & Augustynski, J.
  Communication—Continuous Monitoring of Activity of Plasmonic Gold Nanoparticles over Photooxidation Reactions Carried-Out on Au/TiO2 Photocatalysts.
  (2017). Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 164(9), H667-H669.
  DOI:10.1021/acscatal.8b03497

Contact

Prof.  Jan Augustyński
e-mail: j.augustynski@cent.uw.edu.pl
phone: +48 22 55 43710
room: 02.168