This U.S.-Hungary Joint Fund research project on "Pollutant Photodegradation Mediated by Clay-Organocomplex-Incorporated Semiconductors" will be conducted by Dr. Imre Dekany of Attila Jozsef University and Dr. Janos H. Fendler of Syracuse University. Semiconductors mediate the efficient photodegradation of pollutants. Well-characterized alkylammonium and alkylpyridinium surfactant-modified clays (clay organocomplexes), developed by the Hungarian investigators, will be used as hosts for the semiconductors. Judicious selection of experimental conditions will allow the adjustment of interspace distances between the surfactant molecules and the preparation of size-quantized colloidal semiconductor particles therein. In this project, size-quantized semiconductor particles will be in situ generated and used to mediate the photodegradation of pollutants. Size- and dimensionality-controlled semiconductor particles will be generated in the interlamellar spaces of the clay organocomplex particles. Absorption spectroscopy, electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and electrochemical measurements will be used to characterize the structures of the systems constructed. Fundamental information on photoelectron transfer will be obtained by steady-state and picosecond time-resolved spectroscopy. The obtained knowledge will, in turn, be used to optimize pollutant photodestruction. The project could point the way to an economically tractable approach to useful methods of environmental cleanup. This research in materials theory fulfills the US-Hungary Joint Fund's objective of advancing science by enabling leading experts in the United States and Hungary to combine complementary talents and pool research resources in areas of strong mutual interest and competence.
