Synthesis of nanoparticles of lanthanum doped Nb2O5 by the solvothermic method and applications in the catalysis of esterification reactions

• Grant number: 19/11477-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2019
• End date: December 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Giovanni Pimenta Mambrini
• Grantee: Giovanni Miraveti Carriello
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias para a Sustentabilidade (CCTS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Sorocaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The nanotechnology is growing in recent years due to the interesting materials and applications that researches in this area are developing materials with new properties, only changing the size of the particles to the nanoscale several properties of the material change, such as the surface of contact. Among the materials studied, there is niobium pentoxide, which has aroused interest in researches, which are currently not very developed. Among these properties can mention several applications in electronics, such as emitting and supercapacitor diodes, and in chemistry as a catalyst in organic reactions. In addition, Brazil currently has the largest niobium mineral reserve among all countries, stipulating that more than 90% of the world's niobium reserve is located in Brazil. Moreover, there are still the lanthanides, especially in the case of lanthanum, which has recently been investigated for catalytic applications for doping with it, as well as reactions of ester synthesis. In view of these points, this work proposes the synthesis of nano-structures of lanthanum doped niobium pentoxide by the solvothermic method using microwave 2.45 GHz (length of the domestic microwave oven) aiming the application in catalysis of the esterification reaction. This reaction is being of great importance for the current society due to the synthesis of biofuels.