The project is dedicated to the development of new heterojunctions of nanostructured metal oxide semiconductors, whose synergic effect makes it possible the activation by visible radiation, resulting in improved photocatalytic activity. The investigated systems involve mainly BiVO₄, WO₃, BiNbO₄, TiO_2, and ZnO. These catalysts were synthesized through microwave-assisted routes and applied to the photodegradation of organic species, and the photoelectrochemical generation of H₂. The main goal is to correlate the chemical and physical properties and the catalytic efficiency with the microwave irradiation conditions.

 Funding: Fundação de amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo – FAPESP (https://fapesp.br/en) 

 Scientific leader: Dr. Juliana dos Santos de Souza 

Collaborators: Dr. Paola Corio (Universidade de São Paulo – BR), Dr. Wendel Andrade Alves (Universidade Federal do ABC- BR), Dr. Flávio Leandro Souza (Universidade Federal do ABC – BR), Dr. Eduardo Lucas Subtil (Universidade Federal do ABC – BR), Dr. Dmitry V. Bavykyn (University of Southampton – UK), Dr. Carlos Ponce de Leon (University of Southampton – UK), Mauro Sardela (MRL – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign – USA), Dr. Joaquín Rodríguez López (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign – USA)