Investigating the Metal-TiO₂ Influence for Highly Selective Photocatalytic Oxidation of Methane to Methanol

Author(s)

da Silva, Marcos Augusto R. ; Gil, Jessica C. ; Torres, Juliana A. ; Silva, Gelson T. S. T. ; Filho, Jose Balena Gabriel ; Victoria, Henrique Fernandes Vieira ; Krambrock, Klaus ; Teixeira, Ivo F. ; Ribeiro, Caue

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES; v. 16, n. 32, p. 13-pg., 2024-07-23.

Abstract

Methane conversion to valuable chemicals is a highly challenging and desirable reaction. Photocatalysis is a clean pathway to drive this chemical reaction, avoiding the high temperature and pressure of the syngas process. Titanium dioxide, being the most used photocatalyst, presents challenges in controlling the oxidation process, which is believed to depend on the metal sites on its surface that function as heterojunctions. Herein, we supported different metals on TiO2 and evaluated their activity in methane photooxidation reactions. We showed that Ni-TiO2 is the best photocatalyst for selective methane conversion, producing impressively high amounts of methanol (1.600 mu mol<middle dot>g(-1)) using H2O2 as an oxidant, with minimal CO2 evolution. This performance is attributed to the high efficiency of nickel species to produce hydroxyl radicals and enhance H2O2 utilization as well as to induce carrier traps (Ti3+ and SETOVs sites) on TiO2, which are crucial for C-H activation. This study sheds light on the role of catalyst structure in the proper control of CH4 photoconversion. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 21/13271-9 - Single atoms coordinated on graphitic carbon nitrides to photocatalytic conversion of methane
• Grantee: Marcos Augusto Ribeiro da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 18/01258-5 - Novel chemical catalytic and photocatalytic processes for the direct conversion of methane and CO2 to products
• Grantee: José Maria Correa Bueno
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 20/14741-6 - Graphitic carbon nitrides as platforms for single-atom photocatalysis: moving towards design principles for improved performance
• Grantee: Ivo Freitas Teixeira
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants