Development of Nb2O5-based Zn-decorated semiconductors for CO2 photoconversion.

• Grant number: 23/10761-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2023
• End date: August 25, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Francisco Guilherme Esteves Nogueira
• Grantee: Laura Emmendoerfer Navarro
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/02980-1 - Development of semiconductors for photoconversion of CO2 into solar fuels and products for the chemical industry, AP.PNGP.PI

Abstract

The main objective of this project is to develop robust, efficient, and low-cost photocatalysts based on niobium oxide (Nb2O5) decorated with different mass fractions of Zn using the hydrothermal method. The developed materials will be applied for the photoreduction of CO2, and the photocatalytic tests will be conducted using two different reactor configurations in different phases (solid-liquid and solid-gas), aiming to increase the efficiency of the process. This work is based on the patent deposited by the proponent entitled "Highly active visible-light-driven niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5) nano-photocatalysts doped with zinc (Nb2O5:Zn) and a method of preparation" with a deposit date of 20/09/2018 (BR 102018069217-8).