Reduction of species such as H+, CO2, and N2 for energy generation concomitantly with oxidation of organic contaminants

• Grant number: 23/10027-5
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Initial Project
• Start date: September 01, 2023
• End date: August 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Agreement: Serrapilheira Institute
• Principal Investigator: Juliana Ferreira de Brito
• Grantee: Juliana Ferreira de Brito
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Lucia Helena Mascaro Sales ; Maria Valnice Boldrin
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/00612-0 - Connecting Science and Society: Sustainability in Energy Generation, BP.JC; 24/00614-3 - Connecting Science and Society: Sustainability in Energy Generation, BP.JC

Abstract

Reduction and oxidation reactions must necessarily occur simultaneously; for one species to be reduced, another must be oxidized. However, these processes are usually studied in isolation, focusing on one reaction at a time. The aim of this project is to study systems in which both reactions can be carried out simultaneously, enabling the generation of fuel through the reduction reaction and the treatment of organic contaminants through the oxidation reaction. Reduction reactions can be applied specifically to (i) CO2 molecules, producing fuels such as alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, among others; (ii) N2 molecules, generating NH3; and (iii) H+ species, producing H2. The oxidation reactions can be applied to organic waste, whether real effluents or model molecules, aiming at the treatment of contaminated waters. Thus, in this simultaneous system, with the same energy used for treating waste, it is possible to generate value-added chemical compounds, minimizing the economic impact of environmental treatments. Both processes can be carried out using photochemical techniques such as photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis in two-compartment cells utilizing electron-directing photoanodes. In this system, the photoanode is activated by light, generating electron-hole pairs. The holes cause the oxidation of the waste, while the electrons are transferred to a conductive cathode in the second compartment through either an applied potential (photoelectrocatalysis) or a pH difference between the two media (photocatalysis), leading to reduction. Together with the H+ generated in the oxidation and transferred to the second compartment, the desired products are formed. Within this context, the synthesis of catalytic materials used in both reactions will also be investigated to make these reactions more economical, specific, and efficient. (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)

LIMA PERINI, JOAO ANGELO; MOURA TORQUATO, LILIAN D.; DE BRITO, JULIANA F.; ANDOLPHO, GUSTAVO A.; GONSALVES, MATEUS A.; DE ANGELIS, LEONARDO D.; GERMANO, LUCAS D.; CORDOBA DE TORRESI, SUSANA I.; RAMALHO, TEODORICO C.; BOLDRIN ZANONI, MARIA V.. Solar-driven CO2 conversion to methane and methanol using different nanostructured Cu2O-based catalysts modified with Au nanoparticles. JOURNAL OF ENERGY CHEMISTRY, v. 91, p. 12-pg., 2024-01-24. (21/08007-0, 20/15230-5, 14/50945-4, 19/00463-7, 18/22845-6, 23/10027-5)

PINTO, FELIPE M.; DE CONTI, MARY C. M. D.; PEREIRA, WYLLAMANNEY S.; SCZANCOSKI, JULIO C.; MEDINA, MARINA; CORRADINI, PATRICIA G.; DE BRITO, JULIANA F.; NOGUEIRA, ANDRE E.; GOES, MARCIO S.; FERREIRA, ODAIR P.; et al. Recent Advances in Layered MX₂-Based Materials (M = Mo, W and X = S, Se, Te) for Emerging Optoelectronic and Photo(electro)catalytic Applications. CATALYSTS, v. 14, n. 6, p. 49-pg., 2024-06-01. (23/14228-5, 23/10027-5)

MEDINA, MARINA; CARVALHO, VINICIUS JOSE; DA SILVA, LEANDERSON ARAUJO; BORGES, GABRIEL GONCALVES; CAPELUPI, THIAGO; PIANI, ARTHUR; MAURIZ, PEDRO PAES; GOMES, JOAO VITOR; DE BRITO, JULIANA FERREIRA. Electrocatalytic contributions from Brazilian research groups for clean energy conversion and environmental remediation. Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry, v. N/A, p. 41-pg., 2024-09-17. (24/00614-3, 24/00777-0, 23/14228-5, 23/10027-5)