Abstract
This thesis has been carried out at the National Tsing Hua University (Hsinchu, Taiwan), in the Department of Materials Sciences and Engineering. This thesis consisted of the study and development of an organic porous structure used as a matrix for the incorporation of titanium dioxide in the purpose of water photo-catalysis to produce hydrogen. The main organic compound studied was silk fibroin from silkworm. The titanium dioxide has been synthesized in different forms: nanoparticles, nanorods and mesocrystals. The working steps were: • Theoretical study: chemical/physical reaction, existing photocatalysts, previous work. • Extraction, purification of the fibroin, gelation and lyophilisation. • Characterization: SEM, TEM, XRD, spectrophotometer and measure of the hydrogen production by gas chromatography. The main issue is the design of a system linking the ease of production of the nanoparticles, of the organic matrix, and allowing a surface yield increased by the high threedimensional density of the photo-catalysts.