Photocatalytic/photoelectrocatalytic reduction of CO2 and water splitting at Photoanode-Driven reactor using TiO2NT/BiVO4 and FTO/BiVO4 as photoanode and GDL-PtNP as cathode

• Grant number: 18/16062-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: December 01, 2018
• End date: May 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Maria Valnice Boldrin
• Grantee: João Angelo de Lima Perini
• Supervisor: Siglinda Perathoner
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Università degli Studi di Messina, Italy
• Associated to the scholarship: 16/18057-7 - CO2 reduction aiming to generate value-added compounds by photocatalysis/photoelectrocatalysis using ionic liquid in a pressurized reactor, BP.PD

Abstract

Take into account that the increase of carbon dioxide emissions in recent years is an environmental threat concern for the Earth's climate, the great challenge is to find efficient alternatives to reduce the atmospheric level of CO2. So, this proposal aims to improve the performance of photocatalytic or photoelectrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide and water splitting at TiO2NT/BiVO4 and FTO/BiVO4 photoelectrodes in photoanode-driven reactors. Both electrodes will be prepared by investigating optimum deposit of BiVO4 on nanotubes of TiO2 and a conductor glass (FTO). Their performances will be tested by using a two compartment homemade Plexiglas reactor equipped with a quartz window separated from cathode by a proton exchange membrane built by Perathoner and Centi group. The reduction of CO2 (or water reduction) will be separated to other process (water oxidation) occurring at a cathode based on gas diffusion layer (GDL) decorated with noble metal catalysts (Pt). The products generated during the photoelectrocatalysis will be identified by gas chromatograph coupled to flame ionization detector, thermal conductivity detector or mass detector. The proposal will integrate the synthesis and characterization of new semiconductor materials able to take advantage of visible light and use of a new photoelectrochemical/electrochemical reactor able to drive reduction of CO2 to added value compounds or water splitting efficiently in a sustainable manner. (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)

LIMA PERINI, JOAO ANGELO; TAVELLA, FRANCESCO; FERREIRA NETO, ELIAS PAIVA; BOLDRIN ZANONI, MARIA VALNICE; LIMA RIBEIRO, SIDNEY JOSE; GIUSI, DANIELE; CENTI, GABRIELE; PERATHONER, SIGLINDA; AMPELLI, CLAUDIO. Role of nanostructure in the behaviour of BiVO 4-TiO 2 nanotube photoanodes for solar water splitting in relation to operational conditions. SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS, v. 223, MAY 2021. (18/01934-0, 18/16062-9)