3D Printed Scaffolds for Monolithic Aerogel Photocatalysts with Complex Geometries

Macroscopically sized nanoparticle-based aerogel monoliths are optimized for photocatalytic methanol reforming by introducing 3D printed polymeric scaffolds. The careful design of the scaffolds allows studying gas flow through and ultraviolet light penetration into the aerogels. Matching the geometry of the photocatalyst with that of the flow reactor results in a maximized hydrogen production rate of 1200 µmol g−1 h−1. AbstractMonolithic 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 o...

Source: Small - October 18, 2021 Category: Nanotechnology Authors: Murielle Schreck, Nicole Kleger, Fabian Matter, Junggou Kwon, Elena Tervoort, Kunal Masania, Andr é R. Studart, Markus Niederberger Tags: Research Article Source Type: research