Hydrogen Peroxide Production During Photo-Electrochemical Water Oxidation Reaction

• Grant number: 22/02300-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: April 01, 2022
• End date: November 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Lucia Helena Mascaro Sales
• Grantee: Cristian Hessel de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07296-2 - CDMF - Center for the Development of Functional Materials, AP.CEPID

Abstract

The interest in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has been significantly grown on the past few years, not only for being such a good oxidant and environment favorable for organic synthesis and environmental applications, but also for being a promising liquid fuel. Replacing the 4 e- water oxidation reaction and O2 formation for the 2 e- water oxidation reaction and H2O2 production at the photoelectrochemical cell anodic compartment is very attractive from both environment and economic point of views. This reaction pathway change aggregates value for the reaction product likewise provides H2O2 production in a clearly and sustainable route when compared to the currently anthraquinone process. However, photoelectrochemical cell H2O2 production is a complex process, because the as obtained H2O2 can be oxidized at the photoanode surface, making the total amount of hydrogen peroxide produced measured not be exact. So, the utilization of electrochemical sensors capable of detecting the smaller quantities of hydrogen peroxide produced directly at the photoanode surface could be an alternative to overcome this issue. This project proposes the study the water oxidation reaction activity via 2 e- route and to determine the real H2O2 production rate at some metallic oxide photoanodes already reported at the literature such as WO3, BiVO4 and CdS in order to test the ability of these materials for H2O2 production. For hydrogen peroxide quantification mesoporous Pt sensors should be used, also the dependence of it with the applied potential, pH and the total photons quantity applied should be estimated. Lastly, a deterioration analysis of the photoanodes should be taken after the photoelectrochemical essays.