Hybrid materials of chiral plasmonic Cu and Pt nanoparticles with Fe¿O¿ and WO¿ for photoelectrocatalysis and hydrogen generation

• Grant number: 25/15763-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: November 01, 2025
• End date: April 30, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Juliana dos Santos de Souza Silva
• Grantee: Caroline Helena Claudino
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 24/18336-0 - Investigation of hybrid systems based on chiral plasmonic nanoparticles and semiconducting metal oxides for photocatalytic applications, AP.R

Abstract

The project aims to develop hybrid materials composed of chiral plasmonic nanoparticles of Cu and Pt associated with the semiconductor oxides Fe¿O¿ and WO¿, with applications in hydrogen generation via photoelectrochemical processes. Specifically, the project seeks to optimize the synthesis of these chiral nanoparticles, investigate the effect of different solvents on the structure and formation mechanisms of metal oxides prepared by microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis, and apply the resulting hybrid materials as photoanodes for water splitting.For the synthesis of chiral nanoparticles, chemical methods and radiolysis will be used with the addition of chiral inducers such as amino acids. The Fe¿O¿ and WO¿ nanostructures will be prepared using different solvents and capping agents. The investigation of the formation mechanism of the metal oxide particles will be conducted using in situ Raman spectroscopy, enhanced by SERS. Material characterization includes techniques such as electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV-Vis reflectance to determine structure, chemical composition, and band gap energy. Chirality will be analyzed through circular dichroism and polarized microscopy. The materials will be tested for their photoelectrocatalytic activity in water splitting reactions, including electrochemical measurements such as cyclic voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy, and Mott-Schottky analysis, in addition to evaluating hydrogen production by gas chromatography.