Controlled strutures of Cu2O decorated with gold for catalysis applications

• Grant number: 15/12106-3
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): August 01, 2015
• Effective date (End): July 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Pedro Henrique Cury Camargo
• Grantee: Gabriel Lorencil de Almeida Serafim
• Home Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project proposes the synthesis of bimetallic nanostructures described as a core of copper (I) oxide (Cu2O) decorated with gold (Au) with uniformity, morphology, size and composition controlled. The interest in these syntheses will be the obtaintion of spherical structures, cubic and octahedral of (Cu-Au) composition for applications in heterogeneous catalysis. First, the work will focus on the synthesis and characterization of three Cu2O structures with distinct morphologies: spheres, cubes and octahedra, which are used as seeds for the controlled deposition of golden (Au) islands (Au) by reduction of AuCl4- (aq) ions originating Cu-Au bimetallic structures. By manipulating variables such as the concentration of Cu2O cores and the amount of Au added to the precursor reaction, the objective is to control the concentration of Au islands on Cu2O structures. Subsequently, the Cu-Au bimetallic structures are employed as heterogeneous catalysts in the solvent free oxidation of alcohols by molecular oxygen (O2) as a model system, evaluating the influence of the structure of the Cu2O support towards the catalytic activity of the Au nanoparticles deposited on their surfaces.