Catalysis-nanostructure-properties relations: establishing basis for the design of multifunctional catalysts

• Grant number: 14/12255-6
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: September 01, 2014 - February 28, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Hebe de las Mercedes Villullas
• Grantee: Hebe de las Mercedes Villullas
• Home Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Assoc. researchers: Denis Ricardo Martins de Godoi ; Elisete Aparecida Batista

Abstract

Renewable sources and alternative technologies are nowadays indispensable for energy production with low environmental impact. Fuel cells are alternative devices that allow substantial efficiency gains and reduction of CO2 emissions. The new perspectives of using anion-exchange membranes as electrolyte in alkaline fuel cells brought about the possibility of producing energy oxidizing fuels as methanol and bioethanol employing Pt-free multifunctional catalysts. These systems have not been sufficiently studied to support the design of high performance catalysts for alkaline medium. The approach proposed in this project involves carrying out comparative and systematic studies aiming to establish correlations between chemical, structural and electronic properties, and activities and reaction mechanisms that would allow creating rational basis for the development of new multifunctional catalysts. The effects of composition of Pd-based catalysts containing different transitions metals (Ru, Sn, Ir, Au, Ni, Cu ou Ag) will be studied. Metal-support interactions will be evaluated by using carbon-oxide nanocomposite supports containing different transition metal oxides (TiO2, CeO2, SnO2, ZrO2, WO3 e MoO3). The mechanisms of methanol and ethanol oxidation will be studied by combining the analysis of reaction products and intermediates (HPLC and/or mass spectrometry) with spectroscopic techniques (FTIRAS). Studies of oxygen reduction will involve evaluation of catalytic activity as well as quantification of the amounts of hydrogen peroxide formed. (AU)

Scientific publications

(7)

(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)

OMETTO, FELIPE B.; CARBONIO, EMILIA A.; TEIXEIRA-NETO, ERICO; VILLULLAS, HEBE M. Changes induced by transition metal oxides in Pt nanoparticles unveil the effects of electronic properties on oxygen reduction activity. JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A, v. 7, n. 5, p. 2075-2086, FEB 7 2019. Web of Science Citations: 1.

VILLULLAS, HEBE M.; OMETTO, FELIPE B.; ALVARENGA, GABRIEL M.; VICENTIN, FLAVIO C. A novel electrochemical cell for operando X-ray absorption measurements at low energies: Probing electrochemically induced electronic changes in palladium. Electrochemistry Communications, v. 94, p. 14-17, SEP 2018. Web of Science Citations: 1.

GUO, JUNSONG; CHEN, RONGRONG; ZHU, FU-HUN; SUN, SHI-GANG; VILLULLAS, HEBE M. New understandings of ethanol oxidation reaction mechanism on Pd/C and Pd2Ru/C catalysts in alkaline direct ethanol fuel cells. APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL, v. 224, p. 602-611, MAY 2018. Web of Science Citations: 36.

GALLO, IRA B. C.; CARBONIO, EMILIA A.; VILLULLAS, HEBE M. What Determines Electrochemical Surface Processes on Carbon Supported PdAu Nanoparticles?. ACS CATALYSIS, v. 8, n. 3, p. 1818-1827, MAR 2018. Web of Science Citations: 6.

ALVARENGA, GABRIEL M.; COUTINHO GALLO, IRA B.; VILLULLAS, HEBE M. Enhancement of ethanol oxidation on Pd nanoparticles supported on carbon-antimony tin oxide hybrids unveils the relevance of electronic effects. JOURNAL OF CATALYSIS, v. 348, p. 1-8, APR 2017. Web of Science Citations: 20.

GODOI, DENIS R. M.; VILLULLAS, HEBE M.; ZHU, FU-CHUN; JIANG, YAN-XIA; SUN, SHI-GANG; GUO, JUNSONG; SUN, LILI; CHEN, RONGRONG. A comparative investigation of metal-support interactions on the catalytic activity of Pt nanoparticles for ethanol oxidation in alkaline medium. Journal of Power Sources, v. 311, p. 81-90, APR 15 2016. Web of Science Citations: 23.

GENTIL, R.; VILLULLAS, H. M. Oxygen reduction activity and methanol tolerance of carbon-supported PtV nanoparticles and the effects of heat treatment at low temperatures. Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry, v. 20, n. 4, SI, p. 1119-1129, APR 2016. Web of Science Citations: 5.