@misc{9248154,
  abstract     = {{The use of NADH as fuel for industrial enzymatic reactions has gained large interest over the years. However, novel catalytic materials and process are required to produce NADH from NAD+. This thesis investigated the deposition and characterization of catalytic materials on p-type silicon microwire (SiMW) photoelectrodes for the photoelectrochemical reduction of NAD⁺ to enzymatically active NADH. Iron aminoclay (FeAC), nickel oxide (NiOx), and hematite (α-Fe₂O₃) were explored as potential co-catalysts using a variety of deposition and surface functionalization strategies. FeAC was successfully synthesized and characterized; however, its high water solubility prevented stable attachment under aqueous reaction conditions. NiOx thin films were deposited by sol-gel spin coating, yielding uniform and crystalline coatings on flat silicon substrates, but non-uniform coverage on SiMW. Hematite coatings were prepared through both sol-gel and hydrothermal methods, with an optimized Fe-urea hydrothermal process producing the most homogeneous particle growth on SiMW arrays. Electrochemical and photoelectrochemical evaluation indicated that TiN-coated SiMW and hematite-modified SiMW, as the most promising of the materials, encountered difficulties promoting the solar-driven NAD⁺ regeneration.}},
  author       = {{Christoforou, Alexandros}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Deposition and characterization of various materials on Si microwires for the photoelectrochemical reduction of NAD+}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}