Study of the oxidation of sulfur dioxide in nanostructured gold catalysts, influence of particle size and matrix

• Grant number: 19/02438-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2019
• End date: February 28, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Susana Inés Córdoba de Torresi
• Grantee: Norberto Alves da Silva Júnior
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 15/26308-7 - Optimization of the physicochemical properties of nano -structured materials for applications in molecular recognition, catalysis and energy conversion/storage, AP.TEM

Abstract

The high energy demand and recent environmental protection policies have resulted in a growing demand for sustainable energy sources. One solution would be the use of H2 in fuel cells. However, one of the factors that makes it unfeasible is the production of the H2 that demands the use of fossil fuels, via catalytic reforming, or a high potential difference, 2.0 V, via water electrolysis. A possible solution would be the oxidation of sulfur dioxide to sulfuric acid to obtain this industrial input, generating, as a counter reaction product, H2. The mechanisms of reaction are still unknown. The most used catalyst is Pt, however, some studies point Au as the most efficient. In addition, the nanostructure of the catalyst is of extreme importance in the optimization of the oxidation process of SO2, since there is a direct relationship between the activity by mass and the size of the nanoparticle. As a consequence, the present proposal intends to evaluate the influence of particle size and matrix utilization for the application of SO2 oxidation to H2 production.

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)

DOURADO, ANDRE H. B.; SILVA-JR, NORBERTO A.; MUNHOS, RENAN L.; DEL COLLE, VINICIUS; ARENZ, MATTHIAS; VARELA, HAMILTON; CORDOBA DE TORRESI, I, SUSANA. Influence of Anion Chaotropicity on the SO2 Oxidation Reaction: When Spectator Species Determine the Reaction Pathway. CHEMELECTROCHEM, v. 7, n. 8, JAN 2020. (15/08300-9, 19/02438-0, 15/26308-7, 13/25592-8, 13/16930-7, 17/09346-8)