3D Printed Scaffolds for Monolithic Aerogel Photocatalysts with Complex Geometries
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Date
2021-12-16
Publication Type
Journal Article
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yes
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Abstract
Monolithic aerogels composed of crystalline nanoparticles enable photocatalysis in three dimensions, but they suffer from low mechanical stability and it is difficult to produce them with complex geometries. Here, an approach to control the geometry of the photocatalysts to optimize their photocatalytic performance by introducing carefully designed 3D printed polymeric scaffolds into the aerogel monoliths is reported. This allows to systematically study and improve fundamental parameters in gas phase photocatalysis, such as the gas flow through and the ultraviolet light penetration into the aerogel and to customize its geometric shape to a continuous gas flow reactor. Using photocatalytic methanol reforming as a model reaction, it is shown that the optimization of these parameters leads to an increase of the hydrogen production rate by a factor of three from 400 to 1200 µmol g−1 h−1. The rigid scaffolds also enhance the mechanical stability of the aerogels, lowering the number of rejects during synthesis and facilitating handling during operation. The combination of nanoparticle-based aerogels with 3D printed polymeric scaffolds opens up new opportunities to tailor the geometry of the photocatalysts for the photocatalytic reaction and for the reactor to maximize overall performance without necessarily changing the material composition.
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Publication status
published
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Book title
Journal / series
Volume
17 (50)
Pages / Article No.
2104089
Publisher
Wiley
Event
Edition / version
Methods
Software
Geographic location
Date collected
Date created
Subject
3D printing; Aerogels; Hydrogen production; Nanoparticles; Photocatalysis; TiO2
Organisational unit
03763 - Niederberger, Markus / Niederberger, Markus
03831 - Studart, André R. / Studart, André R.
03831 - Studart, André R. / Studart, André R.
Notes
Funding
184842 - Nanoparticle-based aerogels for photocatalytic gas phase reactions (SNF)
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