Modulation of physical-chemical properties of metal semiconductors through the control of the parameters of microwave-assisted synthesis

• Grant number: 21/05958-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2022
• End date: September 30, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Juliana dos Santos de Souza Silva
• Grantee: Juliana dos Santos de Souza Silva
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Irina Marinho Factori ; Joaquin Rodriguez Lopez ; Stefan Stanescu

Abstract

The use of nanostructured metal semiconductors in (photo)(electro)catalytic processes has been attracting attention in the last decades. Currently, the researches are focused on the seek for enhancing the catalytic efficiency of these materials. One of the outstanding strategies consists to prepare heterojunctions with other semiconductors (metal and/or organic) or plasmonic nanostructures. The success of this approach depends on the effectivity of the charge transference between the structures that form the heterojunction, an effect that is closely related to the nature and the thickness of the chemical species present at the interface. Thus, the use of microwave-assisted synthesis methods is very attractive, since the technique is based on the dielectric selective heating of the species present in the reactional media. This effect is observed in the surface of the materials due to its unique interaction with the microwaves. Consequently, the use of microwaves opens the possibility of obtaining heterojunctions which interface composition can be modulated by the irradiation parameters used in the synthesis. In this proposal systems based on nanostructures of BiVO4, BiNbO4, NaNbO3, Fe2O3, WO3, ZnO, TiO2, Au, Ag, Pt, graphene and carbon nitride will be prepared through microwave-assisted techniques. These materials are among the most investigated for application is energy conversion devices and organic catalysis nowadays. The correlation between the irradiation conditions and the physical-chemical properties of the resultant systems will be evaluated, as its efficiency in specific applications. Thus, the synthesis kinetics, the chemical and structural nature of the resultant heterojunction interface, and the catalytic activity at the surface of the resultant semiconductors will be investigated. (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)

OLIVEIRA, SIBILA A. A.; KUZNETSOVA, MARIA; SOUZA, JULIANA S.. Effect of the microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis conditions on the photocatalytic properties of BiNbO4 and silver nanocomposites. CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL, v. 49, n. 7, p. 12-pg., 2023-04-01. (21/05958-4)

RODRIGUES, BARBARA S.; VICENTE, MARCOS R. S.; SOUZA, JULIANA S.. Investigating the role of microwave thermal and non-thermal effects on WO₃-graphene oxide composite synthesis. RSC ADVANCES, v. 13, n. 38, p. 10-pg., 2023-09-04. (21/05958-4, 19/26010-9)