Phenol-Formaldehyde Microballoons as Heterogeneous Photocatalyst for Chemical Production

• Grant number: 24/07802-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2024
• End date: September 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Inorganic Chemistry
• Mobility Program: SPRINT - Projetos de pesquisa - Mobilidade
• Principal Investigator: Ivo Freitas Teixeira
• Grantee: Ivo Freitas Teixeira
• Principal researcher abroad: Baris Kumru
• Institution abroad: Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), Netherlands
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 20/14741-6 - Graphitic carbon nitrides as platforms for single-atom photocatalysis: moving towards design principles for improved performance, AP.JP

Abstract

Thermosetting resins are crosslinked polymer structures, which demonstrate high mechanical properties and chemical resistance compared to thermoplastics.[1] Phenol-formaldehyde condensation reaction yields a thermosetting polymer, and it is the first fully synthetic polymer ever reported in literature (known as Bakelite", Novolac, Resol). Phenol-formaldehyde resin is widely employed in wood adhesives, in circuit boards, billiard balls and some secondary structural parts as in aircraft interior panels.[2] While majority is used in matrix form, industry benefits heterophase synthesis of phenol-formaldehyde condensation to generate phenolic microballoons, which are then appealing candidates as fillers, insulators and timber joint adhesives. Hence, phenol-formaldehyde resin is an industrial material available in millionton-scale.[3]Photocatalysis is an emerging technique which harnesses sunlight into chemical energy, such as plants do via photosynthesis. Photocatalysis, enabled by semiconductors, provides intriguing chemical transformations such as CO2 reduction, water splitting, polymer synthesis and synthetic fuel generation.[4] Bandgap and charge separation properties of semiconductors play a crucial role on the photocatalytic activity and required energy input for the photochemical conversion. On a large scale, heterogeneous photocatalysts are preferred simply due to ease of separation and reusability. However, many promising heterogeneous photocatalysts contain critical raw materials (CRM) such as Cd, Pb, Ti, Rh and Ru, which are considered for careful/restricted use by EU, as well as within TU Delft (through Critical Raw Materials pact and Materials Week). Hence, it is vital to reshape photocatalysis field by introducing CRM-free highly active (ideally organic) semiconducting materials available on large scale.This proposal aims to study the potential photocatalytic property of industrial phenol formaldehyde resins. In literature, in the last two years, researchers attempted to use homemade phenol-formaldehyde resins as photocatalysts, however, under very special doped conditions hence with no scalability option. In our case, we will focus on microballoons as proof of concept. First, hollow resins will be obtained fresh or will be recycled from structural parts, to monitor the effect of recycling on optical/structural properties. Then, photocatalytic chemical production from water will be systematically investigated. (AU)