Nanoparticle interfaces design of semiconducting oxides for artificial photosynthesis

• Grant number: 19/10109-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: April 01, 2020 - March 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Douglas Gouvêa
• Grantee: Douglas Gouvêa
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Guilherme Frederico Bernardo Lenz e Silva ; Ricardo Hauch Ribeiro de Castro

Abstract

This proposal is related to the project Shell-ANP-RCGI (Research Center for Gas Innovation CEPID FAPESP) entitled "Project 31 - Production of organic molecules from CO2 and H2O by photocatalysis in nano-oxides" whose subject refers to the synthesis and characterization of nano-oxides of semiconductors to promote ideal conditions to produce organic molecules from CO2 and H2O in the gaseous state by photocatalytic reactions or artificial photosynthesis - FA.Semiconductor oxide, interfacial composition and size of nano-oxide particles play a key role in creating conditions for the absorption of light radiation and adsorption / reaction of H2O and CO2 molecules to produce organic molecules. The physicochemistry of the interfaces (grain surfaces and contours) of nano-oxides can be controlled by segregation of additives, which plays an important role in stabilizing particle size. However, bandgap is controlled by the composition of the semiconductor bulk and the intermediate levels by the soluble impurities, which in turn controls the light absorption while the segregation in the grain contours changes the conductivity of the carriers between the grains and the recombination time, which are responsible for the oxide-reduction reactions of water and CO2. In this way, the production of nanoparticles with the control of the composition of the interfaces will allow the photocatalytic reaction between CO2 and H2O to be facilitated to produce organic products by artificial photosynthesis with potential for use as fuel or industrial inputs. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

FORTES, GUSTAVO M.; SILVA, ANDRE L. DA; CALIMAN, LORENA B.; FONSECA, FABIO C.; GOUVEA, DOUGLAS. Interfacial segregation in Cl- -doped nano-ZnO polycrystalline semiconductors and its effect on electrical properties. CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL, v. 47, n. 17, p. 24860-24867, SEP 1 2021. (14/50279-4, 19/10109-6)