(Europe Section Heinz Gerischer Award) Endeavours in the Electro-Solar World of Schottky, Mott and Gerischer

Abstract

The origins of semiconductor electrochemistry lies in the early 20th century with the pioneering work of scientists like Walter H. Schottky, Nevill Mott, and Heinz Gerischer. Schottky and Mott made significant contributions to the understanding of semiconductor physics, while Gerischer is often credited with laying the groundwork for the field of semiconductor electrochemistry. Particularly Gerischer's studies on the kinetics of electron transfer reactions at semiconductor-electrolyte interfaces have been fundamental to our understanding of semiconductor chemistry and photoelectrochemistry. His early work has conceptually created strong links between electrochemistry and solid state physics, has created a close connection to photochemistry, and has profoundly improved the understanding of interfacial reactions. It allowed to exploit the feature of semiconductors to conduct electricity under certain conditions and their conductivity being strongly altered by doping or by the application of an electric field or a photon flux.These findings have stimulated a work in a wide range of science and led to the foundations towards tremendous success of applications across diverse fields such as Photovoltaics (Solar Cells), Photoelectrochemical Cells, Sensors, Catalysis, Batteries and Fuel Cells, Corrosion Protection, Electrochromic Devices or Water Treatment.The presentation will give a personal perception of the principles, their use in the last 20 years. It is focused on TiO2 based semiconductor electrochemistry and its applications. It involves the growth and use of titania nanotubes their properties and applications, as well as – in recent years – the use of single atoms as co-catalysts in the field of semiconductor electrochemistry.