Growth of TiMOx nanotubes film on Ti-M (M = Cu, Fe)alloys for application in heterogeneous photcatalysis

• Grant number: 12/06924-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: December 01, 2012
• End date: January 27, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Rodnei Bertazzoli
• Grantee: Haroldo Gregorio de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Mecânica (FEM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Eletroassisted photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide to hydrocarbons has attracted increasing interest, mainly by the use of sunlight as a source of energy for the photocatalytic process. Therefore, this postdoc project has as main theme of research, preparation, characterization and application of nanotubes TiCuOx and TiFeOx as electrodes for electroassisted photocatalysis for reduction of CO2 to hydrocarbons and oxidation of glycerol. Initially, samples of Ti-Cu and Ti-Fe alloys will be prepared in an arc voltaic furnace. Following, films and TiCuOx TiFeOx on such samples will be prepared by anodization in ethylene glycol electrolyte containing F-ions. Then electrochemical characterization, structural and morphological studies will be carried out. The studies of photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to hydrocarbons will be conducted in a photoelectrochemical cell constructed with a quartz glass window and a compartment for TiO2 nanotubes film electrodes. The photo-electrochemical cell will be irradiated with sunlight in the presence of water vapor and carbon dioxide to occur CO2 reduction. The hydrocarbon samples will be collected and analyzed by gas chromatography, to estimate the efficiency of the photocatalytic system. A second PEC will be made to investigate the photocatalytic efficiency of TiO2 nanotube for oxidation of glycerol. The remaining concentrations of glycerol and its intermediates will be investigated by Liquid chromatography and Total Organic Carbon.