Development of p-block adatom-modified platinum electrocatalysts for the electrochemical conversion of glycerol in alkaline medium

• Grant number: 19/00305-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: July 01, 2020
• End date: October 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Pablo Sebastián Fernández
• Grantee: Matheus Batista Cordeiro de Souza
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Company: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Química (IQ)
• Associated research grant: 17/11986-5 - Generation and storage of New Energy: bringing technological development for the country, AP.PCPE
• Associated scholarship(s): 21/09655-6 - From fundamental science to application: concomitant production of value-added products from glycerol and ultra-pure hydrogen in PEM electrolyzers, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Biodiesel is a renewable fuel of high importance for the Brazilian energy matrix, which has been showing continuous growth over the years, and has glycerol as a co-product of synthesis, a renewable compound that can also be used as an energy source, or as a precursor for the synthesis of other molecules of greater interest. In this scenario, the objective of this doctoral project is to investigate the co-generation of energy and high added value products from glycerol electro-oxidation. For this purpose, Pt nanoparticle electrocatalysts, modified by the deposition of p-block elements on their surface, will be developed. A series of in situ techniques are used to carry out fundamental studies on these catalysts, in order to understand the impact of this modification on the activity and on the products and reaction intermediates being generated. The activity of the catalysts is initially investigated in a conventional electrochemical cell, and the product generation is monitored using in situ FTIR and on-line HPLC. In situ Raman spectroscopy is used to monitor the formation of Pt oxides/hydroxides and glycerol oxidation products/intermediates. The developed catalysts will be used as anodes in microfluidic fuel cells and in electrolysers, where it is desired to combine the selective oxidation of glycerol, for products of high interest and added value, with the generation of energy and high purity hydrogen gas, respectively. (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)

MELLE, GABRIEL; DE SOUZA, MATHEUS B. C.; SANTIAGO, PATRICIA V. B.; CORRADINI, PATRICIA GON; MASCARO, LUCIA HELENA; FERNANDEZ, PABLO S.; SITTA, ELTON. Glycerol electro-oxidation at Pt in alkaline media: influence of mass transport and cations. Electrochimica Acta, v. 398, DEC 1 2021. (19/00305-2, 14/50249-8, 17/11986-5, 13/07296-2, 18/20952-0)

Academic Publications

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

SOUZA, Matheus Batista Cordeiro de. Desenvolvimento de eletrocatalisadores de platina modificados por adátomos do bloco p para a conversão eletroquímica de glicerol em meio alcalino. 2022. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Química Campinas, SP.