Studies in the synthesis and application of semiconducting nanocrystal heterostructures in artificial photosynthetic processes

• Grant number: 15/14330-8
• Support Opportunities: Research Program on Global Climate Change - Regular Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2016
• End date: June 30, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Cauê Ribeiro de Oliveira
• Grantee: Cauê Ribeiro de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Embrapa Instrumentação Agropecuária. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA). Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (Brasil). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

People welfare and technological progress are generally dependent on the development of novel energy production routes, environmentally-friendly and capable to reduce the impact of other human activities. Among the alternatives, there are the strategies to reform greenhouse gases producing organic molecules, also called as artificial photosynthesis. However, studies are still necessary to propose adequate catalysts, for example, activating such reforming reactions by solar light irradiation. Heterostructures composed by two semiconductors are promising candidates for such reactions due the known increased photoactivity. However, proper combinations among different semiconductors should be defined for the CO2 reduction, as well as the reaction conditions should be well defined. In this context, this proposal focuses on a detailed study about the synthesis of heterostructures which are potentially active in CO2 reduction, based in candidates poorly explored, as CuO:Nb2O5, Cu2O:Nb2O5, Cu2O:BiVO4, BiVO4:Bi2O3 and Nb2O5:g-C3N4, among other materials produced by soft chemical methods. These materials will be characterized by different advanced techniques and applied in CO2 photoreduction batch experiments (liquid phase), searching for compounds as CO, CH3OH, CH4 produced by visible or UV irradiation. Also, the influence of operational parameters (temperature, irradiation type, initial amount of photocatalyst and CO2 saturation) will be investigated. Finally, kinetic studies about CO2 photoreduction will be proposed, by determining / quantifying generated products using cromatographic techniques. (AU)

Scientific publications

(11)

(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 MENDONCA, VAGNER R.; LOPES, OSMANDO F.; AVANSI JR, WALDIR; ARENAL, RAUL; RIBEIRO, CAUE. Insights into formation of anatase TiO2 nanoparticles from peroxo titanium complex degradation under microwave-assisted hydrothermal treatment. CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL, v. 45, n. 17, B, p. 22998-23006, DEC 1 2019. (18/01258-5, 15/14330-8)

ROMERO T. BUENO; OSMANDO F. LOPES; KELE T. G. CARVALHO; CAUE RIBEIRO; HENRIQUE A. J. L. MOURÃO. Semicondutores heteroestruturados: uma abordagem sobre os principais desafios para a obtenção e aplicação em processos fotoquímicos ambientais e energéticos. Química Nova, v. 42, n. 6, p. 661-675, 2019-08-15. (13/13888-0, 18/04558-0, 18/01258-5, 15/12304-0, 16/09746-3, 15/14330-8)

DA SILVA, GELSON T. S. T.; NOGUEIRA, ANDRE E.; OLIVEIRA, JESSICA A.; TORRES, JULIANA A.; LOPES, OSMANDO F.; RIBEIRO, CAUE. Acidic surface niobium pentoxide is catalytic active for CO2 photoreduction. APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL, v. 242, p. 349-357, MAR 2019. (16/09746-3, 16/21515-7, 15/14330-8)

OLIVEIRA, JESSICA A.; REIS, MARIANA O.; PIRES, MAIRA S.; RUOTOLO, LUIS A. M.; RAMALHO, TEODORICO C.; OLIVEIRA, CAUE R.; LACERDA, LIVIA C. T.; NOGUEIRA, FRANCISCO G. E.. Zn-doped Nb2O5 photocatalysts driven by visible-light: An experimental and theoretical study. Materials Chemistry and Physics, v. 228, p. 160-167, APR 15 2019. (18/09723-9, 18/01258-5, 15/14330-8)

CADAN, FELLIPE MAGIOLI; RIBEIRO, CAUE; AZEVEDO, EDUARDO BESSA. Improving g-C3N4:WO3 Z-scheme photocatalytic performance under visible light by multivariate optimization of g-C3N4 synthesis. Applied Surface Science, v. 537, JAN 30 2021. (14/02739-6, 15/14330-8, 18/01258-5)

OLIVEIRA, JESSICA A.; NOGUEIRA, ANDRE E.; GONCALVES, MARIA C. P.; PARIS, ELAINE C.; RIBEIRO, CAUE; POIRIER, GAEL Y.; GIRALDI, TANIA R.. Photoactivity of N-doped ZnO nanoparticles in oxidative and reductive reactions. Applied Surface Science, v. 433, p. 879-886, MAR 1 2018. (14/09014-7, 15/14330-8)

NOGUEIRA, ANDRE E.; DA SILVA, GELSON T. S. T.; OLIVEIRA, JESSICA A.; TORRES, JULIANA A.; DA SILVA, MITCHELL G. S.; CARMO, MARCELO; RIBEIRO, CAUE. Unveiling CuO role in CO2 photoreduction process - Catalyst or reactant?. Catalysis Communications, v. 137, APR 5 2020. (18/01258-5, 16/21515-7, 16/09746-3, 14/09014-7, 15/14330-8)

TORRES, JULIANA A.; NOGUEIRA, ANDRE E.; DA SILVA, GELSON T. S. T.; LOPES, OSMANDO F.; WANG, YANJIE; HE, TAO; RIBEIRO, CAUE. Enhancing TiO2 activity for CO2 photoreduction through MgO decoration. JOURNAL OF CO2 UTILIZATION, v. 35, p. 106-114, JAN 2020. (16/21515-7, 15/14330-8)

NOGUEIRA, ANDRE E.; OLIVEIRA, JESSICA A.; DA SILVA, GELSON T. S. T.; RIBEIRO, CAUE. Insights into the role of CuO in the CO2 photoreduction process. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 9, FEB 4 2019. (16/09746-3, 16/21515-7, 14/09014-7, 15/14330-8)

NOGUEIRA, ANDRE E.; SILVA, GELSON T. S. T.; OLIVEIRA, JESSICA A.; LOPES, OSMANDO F.; TORRES, JULIANA A.; CARMO, MARCELO; RIBEIRO, CAUE. CuO Decoration Controls Nb2O5 Photocatalyst Selectivity in CO2 Reduction. ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS, v. 3, n. 8, p. 7629-7636, AUG 24 2020. (16/21515-7, 18/01258-5, 14/09014-7, 16/09746-3, 15/14330-8)

DE MENDONCA, VAGNER R.; LOPES, OSMANDO F.; AVANSI JR, WALDIR; ARENAL, RAUL; RIBEIRO, CAUE. Insights into formation of anatase TiO2 nanoparticles from peroxo titanium complex degradation under microwave-assisted hydrothermal treatment. CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL, v. 45, n. 17, p. 9-pg., 2019-12-01. (18/01258-5, 15/14330-8)