Insights into the role of CuO in the CO2 photoreduction process.

• Autor(a) principal: Nogueira, André Esteves
• Data de Publicação: 2019
• Outros Autores: Oliveira, Jessica Ariane de, Silva, Gelson Tiago dos Santos Tavares da, Oliveira, Cauê Ribeiro de
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UFOP
• Texto Completo: http://www.repositorio.ufop.br/jspui/handle/123456789/16581; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-36683-8

The CO2 photoreduction process to produce light hydrocarbons is known to be infuenced by the presence of CuO nanoparticles, but the actual role of this material, whether as a catalyst or a reactant, has not yet been revealed. In this work, we investigate the role of CuO nanoparticles produced by a solvothermal method as a catalyst in CO2-saturated water reaction media under UV light, considering the efects of diferent electrolytes (Na2C2O4, KBrO3, and NaOH) and temperatures on nanoparticle phase and activity. The electrolyte strongly infuenced product selectivity (NaOH led to evolution of CH4, Na2C2O4 to CO, and KBrO3 to O2) and induced CuO phase change. A long-term analysis of these processes indicated that during the initial steps, CuO acted as a reactant, rather than as a catalyst, and was converted to CuCO3.Cu(OH)2, while the as-converted material acted as a catalyst in CO2 photoreduction, with conversion values comparable to those reported in the literature.