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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Light-Induced In Situ Oxidative Coupling Mediated by Triplet State Reactive Oxygen into Nanostructured Hexaniobate Photocatalyst

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Author(s):
Souza, Eduardo Caetano C. [1]
Total Authors: 1
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Chem, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 1
Document type: Journal article
Source: ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS; v. 3, n. 8, p. 8483-8494, AUG 28 2020.
Web of Science Citations: 0
Abstract

An eventual reduction of our reliance on fossil fuels naturally requires the engineering of advanced photocatalysts to convert light energy into chemical bonds. The selection of photon absorbing redox-active centers in transition metal oxides encloses M-O bond strength and localized acidity. Solid acid potassium hexaniobate HxK4-xNb6O17 center dot nH(2)O contains a high concentration of Bronsted sites distributed along an excess number of bidimensional interlamellar spacing units. This structure has been fairly prospected for H-2 production, but the ability to promote oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) and coupling has not been announced since hydrolysis competes with polymerization. In this study, the catalytic activity of H2.8K1.2Nb6O17 center dot H2O has been evaluated for the case of aniline (C6H5NH2) in the presence of O-2 from atmospheric air. Two particle morphologies were examined: layered and nanotubular. Both presented considerable photoreactivity under UV-excitation with the solar conversion yield accounting for 17 wt %. Optical spectroscopy was applied to assess the extension of aniline partial oxidation. Density functional theory calculations have been performed to rationalize the observed properties and support describing a system that models the oligomerization of activated monomers at niobate acid sites. After irradiation, homolytic N-H bond dissociation is realized by triplet state reactive oxygen from labile O-o(x) sites of Nb-O-Nb redox centers. Lattice oxygen is then restored by O uptake from molecular O-2 according to the Mars-van Krevelen mechanism. The confinement of reactant molecules into nanometer scale reaction venues favors photopolymerization due to strong short-range interaction driving forces. The results open the door for the application of layered niobates in other photoinduced conversions. Alternatives include the synthesis of olefins and hydrocarbon fuels by the oxidative coupling of methane or alcohols dehydration. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 12/15785-0 - Development and Characterization of New Conductor Materials based on Layered Niobates
Grantee:Eduardo Caetano Camilo de Souza
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral