In situ and operando studies during thermocatalytic and photocatalytic conversion of methane into value-added chemicals: gas- and liquid-phase reactions with solid photocatalysts

• Grant number: 23/01980-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: August 01, 2023
• End date: July 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Inorganic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Estevam Vitorio Spinacé
• Grantee: Saulo do Amaral Carminati
• Supervisor: Miguel A. Bañares
• Host Institution: Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN). Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Spain
• Associated to the scholarship: 21/01896-4 - Development of doped-TiO2/WO3 photocatalysts for methane conversion into value-added chemicals coupled with hydrogen evolution from water, BP.PD

Abstract

Along with the advantages of mild reaction condition, simple operation, and low energy consumption, the photocatalytic conversion of methane presents a great potential in facilitating the direct methane conversion into value-added chemicals. Nevertheless, despite the progress in terms of efficiency and selectivity, some challenges remain to be solved to match the requirements of future industrial perspectives. The mechanism has not been sufficiently studied, especially in terms of C-H bond activation mechanism and selective synthesis of high-carbon hydrocarbons. In this sense, there has been an increasing interest in the development of characterization techniques of functional materials during genuine operating conditions, contributing to unravel the structure-activity relationships of photocatalysts to guide the development of more accurate and reliable photocatalytic systems. In this work, real-time Raman spectroscopy will be used to identify the reactants, dynamic structural changes of photocatalysts and selective products during methane conversion during thermo or photocatalytic methane conversion coupled with hydrogen generation from water. Herein, a systematic study to elucidate the photocatalyst role during gas and liquid-phase methane conversion will be carried out. With this work, we aim to provide experimental evidence for mechanistic clarity to designing photocatalysts with better methane conversion efficiency. (AU)