Electronic modulation of Pt atomically dispersed on oxides aiming catalytic applications

• Grant number: 20/08575-6
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Effective date (Start): February 01, 2021
• Effective date (End): January 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Inorganic Chemistry
• Principal researcher: Daniela Zanchet
• Grantee: Leonardo da Silva Sousa
• Home Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/01258-5 - Novel chemical catalytic and photocatalytic processes for the direct conversion of methane and CO2 to products, AP.TEM

Abstract

Stabilizing metal species of high surface area is a challenge due to their surface tension. A straightforward way for avoiding the agglomeration of small metal particles consists of dispersing them on a support, stronger the support interaction, higher the stabilization and dispersion of the supported phase. In addition, metal-support interaction may deeply impact on the electronic properties of the metallic species. The aim of this project is the development of a new synthetic procedure to stabilize atomically dispersed Pt atoms on oxides and modulate their electronic properties targeting heterogeneous catalytic reactions. A new method is proposed based on the structural changes of the salen ligand (schiff bases), complexation of these ligands with Pt2+, and the deposition on oxides, such as TiO2. After deposition, the complexes will be pyrolyzed under N2 (g) flux to promote an incomplete burn of the organic phase. It is expected that the residual species of the degraded ligands will be of great importance during the stabilization of the Pt species, aiding the dispersion of the metallic particles, and increasing the population of atomically dispersed species. The goal is not only evaluating the particle distribution and stabilization, but also the influence of the residual phase on the platinum electronic properties. The catalysts synthesized by the proposed methodology will be of interest in several reactions, and in the context of this project will be applied to CO2 conversion through Reverse Water Gas Shift Reaction (RWGS). (AU)