Controlled synthesis of novel nano-catalysts and plasmonic catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and hydrogen production via water splitting

• Grant number: 22/07813-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: October 30, 2022
• End date: February 27, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Reinaldo Giudici
• Grantee: Lucas Alves da Silva
• Supervisor: Pedro Henrique Cury Camargo
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Helsinki, Finland
• Associated to the scholarship: 21/05329-7 - Characterization and evaluation in process of nano-structured and SACs catalysts of Ni and Fe type supported on zeolites for the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process, BP.MS

Abstract

The growth of the transport sector in recent years and the crude oil depletion has stimulated the search for the production of fuel from alternative energy sources. In this sense, gas-to-liquid processes (GTL), and especially the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS), have gained attention worldwide since allow the conversion of greenhouse gases into high quality synthetic fuel. Given this, the 4AirCRAFT project is an international partnership between seven universities, with the objective of developing an unprecedented technology for the synthesis of aviation fuel from the direct conversion of CO2 in a multi-catalytic process. The present master's research project is part of the general context of the 4AirCRAFT project and focuses on the characterization and performance evaluation of Fe based catalysts supported on different zeolites in the FTS. Since it is well known, the use of bifunctional zeolite catalysts is a promising approach for the production of fuel-range hydrocarbons with great selectivity in FTS conditions. Besides the chemical difficulties found in the FTS, the production of H2, a raw-material to FTS also represents a challenge in environmental and economic perspectives. Recently, water splitting reaction caried out with plasmonic material has proved to be a promising alternative for the solar-energy efficient green H2 production. In this context, this BEPE internship project aims to bring a differential knowledge to the present master's project with achievements regarding the development of metal nanoparticles catalysts supported on zeolites for FTS and the controlled synthesis of novel plasmonic nanomaterials and their application in the water splitting reaction for green H2 generation. (AU)