Investigation of the SERS and catalytic activity of plasmonic nanostructures in the degradation of organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides

• Grant number: 19/03371-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: April 01, 2019
• End date: March 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Paola Corio
• Grantee: Douglas dos Santos Lopes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 16/21070-5 - Vibrational spectroscopy with spatial resolution, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 22/04412-0 - Synthesis and electrochemical characterization of piers substrates for the detection of chemicals of environmental interest, BE.EP.DD

Abstract

Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) was first observed in 1974 by Fleischmann et. al. Since then, the SERS technique has emerged as an important tool in the detection of very small amounts of compounds of interest, thanks to the immense advantages of this tool over others well established ones, mainly due to its ultra-sensitivity, low interference of the solvent in aqueous solutions and selectivity for molecules adsorbed to a nanostructure. The main contribution to the SERS effect is consequence of plasmonic metallic surfaces, being silver and gold excellent metals for the use of SERS spectroscopic technique, since they can be excited by optical frequencies and contribute with Raman signal intensification factors that can reach between 109 to 1010 orders of magnitude under optimal excitation conditions. By combining, on the same platform, SERS and catalytic activity, it is possible to perform the in situ monitoring of several reactions. This allows one to investigate data regarding the mechanism and kinetics of the process of interest. There are several ways to obtain these bifunctional structures that can catalyze a wide range of reactions and are therefore extremely relevant for application in environmental chemistry in relation to the degradation of persistent compounds in the environment, such as organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides. The use of these toxic compounds in huge quantities in recent years alerts to the problems they can cause to the environment and human and animal health. The present work aims to investigate the use of bimetallic plasmonic nanoparticles of AuPd immobilized in TiO2 as catalysts and SERS-active substrates in the study of the interaction between organochlorine and organophosphates pesticides on the surface of nanostructures, as well as their degradation under hydrogenation and oxidation conditions. The studies will be focused on investigating the selectivity and activity of the catalyst. (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)

LOPES, DOUGLAS S.; VONO, LUCAS L. R.; MIRANDA, ESTER, V; ANDO, ROMULO A.; CORIO, PAOLA. Inhibition of p-Nitrothiophenol Catalytic Hydrogenation on Ag-Containing AgAu/Pd/TiO2 Plasmonic Catalysts Probed in situ by SERS. CHEMCATCHEM, v. 14, n. 5, p. 7-pg., 2022-01-27. (19/03371-6)

LOPES, DOUGLAS S.; MIRANDA, ESTER V.; ANDO, ROMULO A.; CORIO, PAOLA. SERS-based detection of an organochlorine pesticide through surface plasmon-induced C-C coupling. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-NANO, v. 10, n. 7, p. 12-pg., 2023-05-19. (16/21070-5, 19/03371-6)

LOPES, DOUGLAS DOS SANTOS; ABREU, DIERIC DOS SANTOS; ANDO, ROMULO AUGUSTO; CORIO, PAOLA. Regioselective Plasmon-Driven Decarboxylation of Mercaptobenzoic Acids Triggered by Distinct Reactive Oxygen Species. ACS CATALYSIS, v. 12, n. 23, p. 10-pg., 2022-11-15. (19/21939-0, 16/21070-5, 19/03371-6)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

LOPES, Douglas dos Santos. Investigation of the catalytic activity of bifunctional plasmonic nanocatalysts via in situ SERS monitoring. 2023. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Conjunto das Químicas (IQ e FCF) (CQ/DBDCQ) São Paulo.