Date added: 2026-01-05
What lies beneath the invisible layer of semiconductors? Publication in "Nature"
In her article, the doctoral student argues that X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is an excellent tool for understanding what happens on the surface of a semiconductor. This knowledge may prove useful in proposing solutions aimed at increasing the energy conversion efficiency of photoactive materials used, among others, in photovoltaics and photocatalysis.
“Semiconductors have many applications, including wastewater treatment and clean energy production. Knowledge of the chemical state of their surfaces is important for regulating chemical reactivity in photocatalytic and photovoltaic applications,” explained Marta Kowalkińska, MSc, Eng.
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is a surface analysis technique that involves analysing the kinetic energy distribution of photoelectrons emitted from a sample exposed to X-rays.
“To put it very simply, this technique allows the chemical composition of material surfaces to be determined, along with information about the elements present. For example, detailed surface characterisation can help control the deposition of precious metals on the surface of a photocatalyst to facilitate charge transfer, aid charge carrier separation and enhance light absorption," said Marta Kowalkińska, MSc, Eng. “This technique can detect contamination or degradation of semiconductor surfaces as early as the production stage. It can also be used to monitor changes in the oxidation state of semiconductor surfaces caused by exposure to environmental conditions such as air or water, which can help explain the mechanisms of photocatalytic reactions and improve semiconductor stability," she added.
Distinction from the Polish Academy of Sciences, Royal Society of Chemistry award and Preludium grant
Marta Kowalkińska, MSc, Eng., received an honourable mention in the Gdańsk Branch of the Polish Academy of Sciences Competition for Young Scientists 2024 in the field of exact and Earth sciences for her work on innovative methods of photocatalytic removal of pharmaceuticals from water. She was recognised for her innovative approach to materials engineering and its potential applications in environmental protection. She also received, among others, the Royal Society of Chemistry award at the 12th European Conference on Solar Chemistry and Photocatalysis: Energy and Environmental Applications.
The doctoral student is also a winner of the Preludium competition. The National Science Centre awarded her over PLN 200,000 for the implementation of the project ‘Heterogeneous photocatalysis without critical raw materials: study of the mechanisms of generation and transport of charge carriers in hybrid photocatalysts containing porous organic polymers’.
The supervisor of Marta Kowalkińska, MSc, Eng., is Prof. Anna Zielińska-Jurek from the Department of Process Engineering and Chemical Technology at the Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology.