Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) studies of catalytic processes involving silk fibroin and nickel-cobalt hydroxide nanoparticles

• Grant number: 21/13999-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: June 23, 2022
• End date: June 22, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Wendel Andrade Alves
• Grantee: Eduardo Ruben do Nascimento
• Supervisor: Alexandre G. Brolo
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Victoria (UVic), Canada
• Associated to the scholarship: 18/16491-7 - Influence of nickel hydroxide nanoparkets in self-assemble structure of fibroin microparticles, BP.DD

Abstract

The use of electrochemical processes, such as the water splitting process, represent a great potential for the generation of renewable energy in the next few years. To avoid the expensive and less abundant precious metals, such as gold, silver and platinum, metal oxide and hydroxides are good alternatives, but they performance needs to be improved to allow then to be competitive. In this matter, our previous results have showed that silk fibroin can be used to enhance the electrochemical performance of nickel hydroxide, but the mechanisms that allow it are still a topic for investigation. Therefore, the use of technqiues such as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) can help to clarify the processes that occur during the electrochemical reactions, including the role of fibroin. Therefore, we propose the study of the oxygen evolution reaction utilizing SERS and TERS techniques in order to investigate the catalytic activity of the nickel-cobalt hydroxide/silk fibroin composite for the electrolysis of water and understand the relationship between structure and performance of these materials. (AU)