Synthesis, electrochemical characterization and application of noble metals well-shaped nanoparticles

• Grant number: 17/09780-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: September 25, 2017
• End date: November 08, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Pablo Sebastián Fernández
• Grantee: Pablo Sebastián Fernández
• Visiting researcher: José Solla Gullón
• Visiting researcher institution: Universidad de Alicante (UA), Spain
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Bio-alcohols electro-oxidations mechanism, have been studying by using electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques, especially for the cases of methanol (MeOH) and ethanol (EtOH).However, considering only the simpler and cheaper alcohols, there is a lack of awareness about the EtOH oxidation intermediates and a total lack of glycerol (GlOH), and bigger molecules, intermediates knowledge. However, due to the explosion of the EtOH economy this alcohol has been extensively studied, mainly in Brazil. The most of the published works are not strictly fundamental science papers, but usually neither fundamental nor applied. This fact unhappily generates a relatively poor improvement in the fundamental knowledge of electrode processes as well as in the applied field. On the other hand, there is a growing number of GlOH publication during the last years and with promising results due to the fact that this cheap alcohol can be easier oxidized than EtOH. Besides, some of the GlOH partial oxidation products are very interesting fine chemicals with added value. Therefore, important efforts are required in order to develop materials with two main objectives: 1) GlOH efficient oxidation to CO2 and with high rate in Fuel Cells, and 2) GlOH efficient and selective oxidation at low potentials to simultaneously obtain fine chemicals and ultrapure H2 in electrolyzers. In this project we propose to perform mechanistic studies over some metallic surfaces (Pt based in acid media and Au-based in basic media). The reaction pathways will be investigated by using in situ FTIR, DEMS, on line HPLC and Raman together with common electrochemical experiments. These kinds of experimental measurements, together with computational experiments by means of DFT, will permit a deeper understanding on the relationship between the different reaction pathways and the characteristics of the metallic catalyst, which will provide us with a deeper understanding of the electrodes processes in the catalyst interface. Finally, this project will allow the formation of a research group with a multidisciplinary approach and a very important potential to study mechanisms of electrochemical reaction. (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)

DE SOUZA, MATHEUS B. C.; FERNANDEZ, PABLO S.; SOLLA-GULLON, J.. Adatom decorated shape-controlled metal nanoparticles: Advanced electrocatalysts for energy conversion. CURRENT OPINION IN ELECTROCHEMISTRY, v. 9, p. 121-128, JUN 2018. (17/09780-0, 16/01365-0)