TiO2 nanoparticles prepared by solvothermal method and their application as catalyst for esterification reaction

• Grant number: 15/26482-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2016
• End date: November 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Giovanni Pimenta Mambrini
• Grantee: Luana Almeida Cardoso Sampaio Domingues
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias para a Sustentabilidade (CCTS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Sorocaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

New technologies and materials have been developed through the study and applications of nanoparticles. This is one of the most promising areas in chemistry. Nanoscience and nanotechnology are interesting because allow to synthesize materials with different properties in relation of the bulk counterparts. This is known that materials properties are strongly related with particle size. TiO2 nanoparticles have a wide range of technological applications, including sensors, photocatalysis, dyes, pigments and sunscreens. Due to this characteristics, there are many efforts in preparing nanostructured TiO2 with right morphological properties and apply this in those cited technologies. This research project aims the preparation of TiO2 nanoparticles with controlled size, morphology and size distributions. A solvothermal method will be used to achieve the desired material. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles will be characterized by X ray diffraction, spectroscopic methods (Raman, Infrared) and electron microscopy. After the optimization of the synthetic method, those samples will be tested as catalyst for the esterification reaction between ethanol and acetic acid; the choice for this reaction is related with its great importance for the chemical industry in general.