Preparation, modification and catalytic evaluation of Nb2O5-based photocatalysts

• Grant number: 15/08995-7
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: November 01, 2015
• End date: October 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Liana Alvares Rodrigues
• Grantee: Liana Alvares Rodrigues
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de Lorena (EEL). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Lorena , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: Lorena
• Associated researchers: Hélcio José Izário Filho ; Maria Lucia Caetano Pinto da Silva

Abstract

This project will generate scientific knowledge to increase the competitive edge, technological base of EEL/USP in the material area. We intend to explore the development of various photocatalysts. In special, we aimed to study the feasibility of niobium oxide as photocatalyst in the photo-degradation of organic dyes. Numerous efforts will be made to improve the response to visible light, quantum efficiency and photocatalytic activity of the samples. Certain routes will be used for this way, including metal deposition. In particular, the Nb2O5-carbon xerogel preparation will be studied, as this will be the greatest technological innovation of this project, since the catalytic effect of this composite has never been studied in the literature. The use of carbon xerogel in the semiconductor-carbonaceous material preparation is justified by their excellent electrical conductivity, high surface area and porosity. The tannin molecule choice as xerogel precursor is based at reducing costs and environmental impacts, as well as adds value to the proposed technological innovation. The metal oxide will be prepared by chemical precipitation method and sol-gel route. The photocatalytic activity under UV-visible light irradiation was evaluated using methylene blue (MB) as a model organic compound. The dye concentration will be determined through its absorption maximum band (670 nm for MB) using a UV-vis spectrophotometer. The band gap energy of the samples, the quantity of adsorbed molecules on their surfaces, and the effect of metal ion doping and metal deposition on the photocatalytic properties of the samples will be determined using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The crystallographic phase, morphology, elemental analysis, analysis of metal content, and porosity of the samples will be examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) will be used to measure enthalpy changes due to changes in the physical and chemical properties of the samples. Thermogravimetry (TGA) will be used to evaluate the thermal stability of the materials. (AU)

Scientific publications

(9)

(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)

DE MORAES, NICOLAS PERCIANI; BACANI, REBECA; CAETANO PINTO DA SILVA, MARIA LUCIA; BASTOS CAMPOS, TIAGO MOREIRA; THIM, GILMAR PATROCINIO; RODRIGUES, LIANA ALVARES. Effect of Nb/C ratio in the morphological, structural, optical and photocatalytic properties of novel and inexpensive Nb2O5/carbon xerogel composites. CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL, v. 44, n. 6, p. 6645-6652, APR 15 2018. (15/08995-7, 16/04244-0)

DE MORAES, NICOLAS PERCIANI; CARVALHO, THAIS; CAETANO PINTO DA SILVA, MARIA LUCIA; BASTOS CAMPOS, TIAGO MOREIRA; THIM, GILMAR PATROCINIO; RODRIGUES, LIANA ALVARES. A novel synthesis route of titanium dioxide with (NH4)(0.3)TiO1.1F2.1 as by-product. CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL, v. 43, n. 16, p. 13677-13682, NOV 2017. (15/08995-7, 16/04244-0)

DE MORAES, NICOLAS PERCIANI; BACETTO, LETICIA ARAUJO; PAIVA, LIVIA KENT; DOS SANTOS, GABRIELA SPIRANDELLI; CAETANO PINTO DA SILVA, MARIA LUCIA; RODRIGUES, LIANA ALVARES. Novel and inexpensive Nb2O5/tannin-formaldehyde xerogel composites as substitutes for titanium dioxide in photocatalytic processes. Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology, v. 89, n. 2, p. 571-585, FEB 2019. (15/08995-7, 16/04244-0, 16/20920-5)

DE MORAES, NICOLAS PERCIANI; SAMPAIO HERZOG DE AZEREDO, CAIO AFFONSO; BACETTO, LETICIA ARAUJO; CAETANO PINTO DA SILVA, MARIA LUCIA; RODRIGUES, LIANA ALVARES. The effect of C-doping on the properties and photocatalytic activity of ZrO2 prepared via sol-gel route. OPTIK, v. 165, p. 302-309, 2018. (15/08995-7)

DE MORAES, NICOLAS PERCIANI; CAETANO PINTO DA SILVA, MARIA LUCIA; RODRIGUES, LIANA ALVARES. Effect of metal doping in the photocatalytic properties of carbon xerogel-Nb2O5 composite towards visible light degradation of methylene blue. Materials Letters, v. 228, p. 486-489, OCT 1 2018. (16/20920-5, 16/04244-0, 15/08995-7)

DE MORAES, NICOLAS PERCIANI; CAETANO PINTO DA SILVA, MARIA LUCIA; BASTOS CAMPOS, TIAGO MOREIRA; THIM, GILMAR PATROCINIO; RODRIGUES, LIANA ALVARES. Novel synthetic route for low-cost carbon-modified TiO2 with enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity: carbon content and calcination effects. Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology, v. 87, n. 2, p. 380-390, AUG 2018. (15/08995-7, 16/04244-0)

DE MORAES, NICOLAS PERCIANI; SILVA, FERNANDA NASCIMENTO; CAETANO PINTO DA SILVA, MARIA LUCIA; BASTOS CAMPOS, TIAGO MOREIRA; THIM, GILMAR PATROCINIO; RODRIGUES, LIANA ALVARES. Methylene blue photodegradation employing hexagonal prism-shaped niobium oxide as heterogeneous catalyst: Effect of catalyst dosage, dye concentration, and radiation source. Materials Chemistry and Physics, v. 214, p. 95-106, AUG 1 2018. (15/08995-7, 16/04244-0, 16/20920-5)

DE MORAES, NICOLAS PERCIANI; BACETTO, LETICIA ARAUJO; DOS SANTOS, GABRIELA SPIRANDELLI; CAETANO PINTO DA SILVA, MARIA LUCIA; BARROS MACHADO, JOAO PAULO; BASTOS CAMPOS, TIAGO MOREIRA; THIM, GILMAR PATROCINIO; RODRIGUES, LIANA ALVARES. Synthesis of novel ZnO/carbon xerogel composites: Effect of carbon content and calcination temperature on their structural and photocatalytic properties. CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL, v. 45, n. 3, p. 3657-3667, FEB 15 2019. (18/10492-1, 16/04244-0, 15/08995-7, 16/20920-5)

DE MORAES, NICOLAS PERCIANI; NEVES, GABRIEL COSTA; TOREZIN, FERNANDA AZZONI; CAETANO PINTO DA SILVA, MARIA LUCIA; RODRIGUES, LIANA ALVARES. Effect of synthesis route in the photocatalytic, structural and morphological properties of carbon xerogel-Nb2O5 composites. Inorganic Chemistry Communications, v. 98, p. 145-149, DEC 2018. (15/08995-7, 16/04244-0, 16/20920-5)