IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,601,066
Granted Patent B2
US 12,601,066 · App. 17/917,150 · Granted Apr 14, 2026

Photocatalysts for water oxidation

Inventor: Wei David Wei (Gainesville, FL)
Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, INC.
C25B1/04B01J19/127B01J35/39C25B1/55C25B5/00C25B11/081C25B11/085C25B11/087
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,601,066
App. No.
17/917,150
Granted
Apr 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure provides for a composition that includes a modified M/TiO 2 composite, method of making the modified M/TiO 2 composite, an electrode having modified M/TiO 2 composite surface and a photoelectrochemical cell including the electrode, and methods of photoelectrochemical oxidation of water. The modified M/TiO 2 composite can be used in an electrode configuration, for example, in a photoelectrochemical cell for the photoelectrochemical oxidation of water. The present disclosure provides for a modified M/TiO 2 composite that has a catechol compound(s) (e.g., oligo-catechol) adsorbed onto at least the M (metal) on the surface of the modified M/TiO 2 composite.

Claims (6)

1 . A composition, comprising: a modified M/TiO 2 composite having a catechol compound adsorbed onto at least the M on the surface of the modified M/TiO 2 composite, wherein the modified M/TiO 2 composite has a defect-free M/TiO 2 interface, wherein the M/TiO 2 composite has the characteristic of having a higher CO oxidation activity than that on an oxygen vacancy (Vo)-rich M/TiO 2 interface.

2 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the M/TiO 2 composite is selected from the group consisting of: a Au/TiO 2 composite, a Ag/TiO 2 composite, a Cu/TiO 2 composite, a Pd/TiO 2 composite, and a Pt/TiO 2 composite.

3 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the catechol compound is an oligo-catechol.

4 . The composition of claim 3 , wherein the oligo-catechol includes 2 to 15 monomers in the backbone of the chain.

5 . The composition of claim 3 , wherein the oligo-catechol has a molecular weight about 110 to 600 g/mol.

6 . The composition of claim 3 , wherein the oligo-catechol is selected from one of:

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 9, 2022
From: WEI, WEI DAVID
To: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
Reel/Frame 061705/0781 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 63028929 · May 22, 2020
Provisional Application 63006539 · Apr 7, 2020
Related Publication 20230160073A1 · May 25, 2023
References Cited (7)
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