Green Synthesis of Copper Nanoparticles Using Sargassum spp. for Electrochemical Reduction of CO2
Dr. Sandra Jazmín Figueroa Ramírez,
Dr. Beatriz Escobar Morales,
Diego Alonso Pantoja Velueta,
Dr. Juan Manuel T. Sierra Grajeda,
Dr. Ivonne Liliana Alonso Lemus,
Dr. Claudia Alejandra Aguilar Ucán
Affiliations
Dr. Sandra Jazmín Figueroa Ramírez
Facultad de Ingeniería Universidad Autónoma del Carmen Av. Central S/N, Esq. con Fracc. Mundo Maya Ciudad del Carmen 24115 Campeche, México
Dr. Beatriz Escobar Morales
CONAHCYT – Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán 5.5 Carretera Sierra Papacal-Chuburná Puerto Sierra Papacal Yucatán 97302, México
Diego Alonso Pantoja Velueta
Facultad de Ingeniería Universidad Autónoma del Carmen Av. Central S/N, Esq. con Fracc. Mundo Maya Ciudad del Carmen 24115 Campeche, México
Dr. Juan Manuel T. Sierra Grajeda
Facultad de Ingeniería Universidad Autónoma del Carmen Av. Central S/N, Esq. con Fracc. Mundo Maya Ciudad del Carmen 24115 Campeche, México
Dr. Ivonne Liliana Alonso Lemus
CONAHCYT – Cinvestav Unidad Saltillo Sustentabilidad de los Recursos Naturales y Energía Av. Industria Metalúrgica, Parque Industrial Saltillo-Ramos Arizpe Coah Ramos Arizpe 25900 México
Dr. Claudia Alejandra Aguilar Ucán
Facultad de Química Universidad Autónoma del Carmen Calle 56, No. 4 Av. Concordia Ciudad de Carmen Campeche 24180, México.
Abstract This study presents a green method of producing copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) using aqueous extracts from Sargassum spp. as reducing, stabilizing, and capping agents. The CuNPs created using this algae‐based method are not hazardous, they are eco‐friendly, and less toxic than their chemically synthesized counterparts. The XRD characterization of the CuNPs revealed the presence of Cu and CuO, with a crystallite size ranging from 13 to 17 nm. Following this, the CuNPs were supported onto a carbon substrate, also derived from Sargassum spp. (biochar CSKPH). The CuNPs in biochar (CuNPs‐CSKPH) did not appear in the XRD diffractograms, but the SEM‐EDS results showed that they accounted for 36 % of the copper weight. The voltamperometric study of CuNps‐CSKPH in acid media validated the presence of Cu and the amount was determined to be 2.58 μg. The catalytic activity of CuNPs‐CSKPH was analyzed for the electrochemical reduction of CO2. The use of Sargassum spp. has great potential to tackle two environmental problems simultaneously, by using it as raw material for the synthesis of activated biochar as support, as well as the synthesis of CuNPs, and secondly, by using it as a sustainable material for the electrochemical conversion of CO2.
