KANGAROO CARE: MATERNAL PERCEPTION OF THE EXPERIENCE IN THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Objective: To investigate the maternal perception of the experience in the first phase of the Kangaroo Mother Care Method in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Methods: Descriptive, exploratory and qualitative study, conducted in the period from August to October 2014, with 10 mothers of newborn preterm (NP) infants, who were admitted to the Maternity School Assis Chateaubriand (MEAC) in Fortaleza, Brazil, and had received skin-to-skin contact through the Kangaroo Care Method during hospitalization in the NICU. Data was collected by semi-structured interview, directed by guiding questions. Content analysis was used for processing the data, being established four categories: “The bond and the attachment”, “Maternal competence”, “The fear of losing the baby” and “The importance of the multidisciplinary team”. Results: The Kangaroo Care Method is a safe and pleasurable practice for mothers and relatives, in addition to providing social and psychoaffective benefits, found in the imagery of the method institutionalization and in the mothers’ experience when properly supported. The meanings of the maternal feelings of apprehension as a result of the first physical contact with the hospitalized child can be evidenced. Regarding the evaluation of its clinical practice, this method has provided better development of the newborn infant and a reduction in hospital stay. Conclusion: The study shows relevance, since the evidence of the maternal perception of this method supports its establishment as a mandatory practice in maternity hospitals, in view of the benefits to the mother and the neonate.

The use of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to address psychological distress experienced by caregivers: a randomised controlled feasibility trial

Background: An extensive research literature has documented the impact of caring for an individual with acquired brain injury (ABI) on caregivers and family members, including role adjustment, psychological distress, social isolation, family tension and coping with the cognitive and behavioural difficulties of the injured person. Given these findings it is important this population have access to services and supports. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an intervention that helps individuals to accept difficult experiences and commit to behaviour that is consistent with their values. Research into the effectiveness of ACT to support caregivers is at a preliminary stage. Aim: To investigate the feasibility of using ACT to reduce psychological distress and increase psychological flexibility in ABI caregivers. A secondary aim was to gain an understanding of the experience of caregivers in this context and how this can inform the development and delivery of interventions for this population. Method: Phase one was a randomised controlled feasibility trial of an ACT intervention for use with ABI caregivers. The parameters of this study were formulated around the PICO (population, intervention, control, and outcome) framework. Eighteen carers were recruited and randomised to ACT or an enhanced treatment as usual (ETAU) group. ACT was implemented over 3 sessions; and ETAU was implemented over 2 sessions. The General Health Questionnaire, Valuing Questionnaire, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire, Experiential Avoidance of Caregiving Questionnaire and the Flexibility of Responses to Self-Critical Thoughts Scale were administered to both groups at baseline and following the final session. Phase two used a retrospective qualitative design that involved conducting semi-structured interviews with four participants from phase one. Results: ACT and control participants were successfully recruited. Positive feedback was obtained from ACT participants suggesting that the intervention was acceptable. There were no significant differences between the ACT and ETAU groups on outcome measures. However, there were challenges retaining participants and the overall attrition rate was high (44.44%). Therefore a number of participants did not complete the full complement of sessions, which may have impacted on this result. Qualitative results illustrated the challenges this population face including significant adjustments in their life, the emotional impact of having a loved one with a brain injury and trying to adapt to the changes in the injured person. In addition, findings elucidated the types of support that this population would find helpful and the barriers to accessing same. Conclusions: Findings from this study highlight factors that will help the development of this intervention further for a caring population. Recommendations for future implementation include completing some preparatory work with carers before beginning the intervention, consideration of a larger sample and wider recruitment strategy from local services, barriers to attending interventions and the possibility of holding groups in local venues.

Prática de ensino supervisionada em educação pré-escolar e ensino do 1º ciclo do ensino básico: a aprendizagem da leitura e da escrita na primeira infância (dos 3 aos 10 anos)

O presente relatório surgiu da nossa investigação e da nossa praxis tanto no contexto da Prática de Ensino Supervisionada em Educação Pré-Escolar, como em Ensino do 1º Ciclo do Ensino Básico, em instituições da cidade de Évora. O principal objetivo foi compreender a finalidade e funcionalidade atribuída pelas crianças à aprendizagem da leitura e da escrita. Neste sentido, foi construído um referencial teórico que sustentou todo o processo de investigação. Desta forma, considero fundamental, contextualizar de forma breve, os ambientes educativos e a conceção da ação educativa que regeu a minha prática. O presente relatório foi construído com base na investigação-ação, levando assim, à utilização de algumas técnicas e instrumentos de recolha de dados, de forma a atingir os objetivos propostos. Ao longo da investigação procurei promover o desenvolvimento da leitura e da escrita, por parte das crianças, no contexto educativo, bem como, promover uma exploração da língua portuguesa articulada com os diversos domínios curriculares. Os resultados que surgiram deste trabalho veem evidenciar que as crianças já apresentam diversos conhecimentos acerca do que é a leitura e a escrita, bem como a sua funcionalidade. Por outro lado, é notória a separação entre a educação pré-escolar e o 1º Ciclo do Ensino Básico, no sentido em que, no primeiro contexto, as crianças apresentam um papel central na aprendizagem, pois tudo é realizado com base nos seus interesses e necessidades, ao passo que, no segundo contexto, as atividades são planeadas para as crianças, mas elas não são participantes nesses processos. Assim, este relatório encontra-se organizado em quatro capítulos. O primeiro capítulo refere-se à fundamentação teórica que sustenta a investigação do tema. O segundo capítulo encontra-se relacionado com a conceção da ação educativa, na qual são apresentados os contextos onde desenvolvi a minha prática. No terceiro capítulo encontra-se a metodologia aplicada ao longo da PES, tendo por base a questão do educador/professor-investigador, bem como a análise, interpretação dos dados obtidos através da entrevista individual semiestruturada e respetivas conclusões. Por fim, no quarto capítulo tecerei implicações e investigações futuras acerca do estudo realizado; Supervised Teaching Practice in Pre-School Education and Teaching of the 1st Basic Education: Learning reading and writing in early childhood (from 3 to 10 years old) Abstract: This report emerged from our research and our praxis both in the context of Supervised Teaching Practice in Pre-School Education, as in teaching of the 1st Cycle of Basic Education in some institutions of the city of Évora. The main objective was to understand the purpose and function assigned by the learners to reading and writing. In this sense, a theoretical framework was created which underpinned the whole process of investigation. In this way, I consider fundamental to contextualize briefly the educational environments and the design of the educational action that conducted my practice. This report was built on the basis of research–action leading to the use of some techniques and tools for data collection in order to achieve the proposed objectives. Throughout the investigation I tried to promote the development of reading and writing by children in the educational context, as well as to promote an exploration of the Portuguese language in conjunction with the diverse curricular areas. The results that have emerged from this work prove that children have already a wide knowledge about what reading and writing are as well as its functionality. On the other hand, it is evident the separation of pre-school education from the first cycle of basic education in the sense that, in the first context, the children have a central role in learning, because everything is done based on their interests and needs, while in the second context activities are planned for the children, but they do not participate in those processes. Thus, this report is organized into four chapters. The first chapter refers to the theoretical background that supports research on the theme. The second chapter is related to the design of educational activity, which presents the contexts where I developed my practice. The third chapter presents the methodology applied along the PES based on the issue of educator/teacher-researcher, as well as the analysis, interpretation of data obtained through the individual semi-structured interview and the corresponding conclusions. Finally, in the fourth chapter I will discuss the implications and the future investigations about the study performed.

Caregivers' experiences and coping strategies relating to patient's subjective treatment-related cognitive impairment following Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT)

The treatments involved in cancers of the blood and bone marrow can be physically and psychologically challenging and be associated with adverse secondary effects, including cognitive impairment. The incidence and severity of treatment-related cognitive impairment varies widely, however it can significantly impact quality of life by interfering with patients’ activities of daily living, relationships and future plans. It can also pose challenges for the patients’ caregivers, an area which has received comparatively less research attention. The aim of this study was to investigate caregivers’ experiences of treatment-related cognitive impairment in patients who have undergone Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT); how they coped, both practically and emotionally, and what supports they believe could help them. Participants were caregivers to individuals who had undergone HSCT within the past 20 years and who had reported cognitive changes at the HSCT Late Effects Clinic, Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre. Five participants completed a single semi-structured interview. The data was then analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results of this analysis illustrated four super-ordinate themes: noticing change; managing expectations, managing personal feelings and commitment. Findings from the current study highlighted the importance of caregiver education regarding post HSCT cognitive and behavioural changes and providing caregiver emotional support. Future research should explore the mutual needs of both care recipient and caregiver.

Active site engineering for heterogeneous catalysis using emerging nano-structured materials

The growing concern about the depletion of oil has spurred worldwide interest in finding alternative feedstocks for important petrochemical commodities and fuels. On the one hand, the enormous re-serves found (208 trillion cubic feet proven1), environmental sustainability and lower overall costs point to natural gas as the primary source for energy and chemicals in the near future.2 Nowadays the transformation of methane into useful chemicals and liquid fuels is only feasible via synthesis gas, a mixture of molecular hydrogen and carbon monoxide, that is further transformed to methanol or to hydrocarbons under moderate reaction conditions (150-350 °C and 10-100 bar).3 For a major cost reduction and in order to valorize small natural gas sources, either more efficient "syngas to products" catalysts should be produced or the manner in which methane is initially activated should be changed, ideally by developing catalysts able to directly oxidize methane to interesting products such as methanol. On the other hand, from the point of view of CO2 emissions, the use of the re-maining fossil resources will further contribute to global warming. In this scenario, the development of efficient routes for the transformation of CO2 into useful chemicals and fuels would represent a considerable step forward towards sustainability. Indeed, the environmental and economic incen-tives to develop processes for the conversion of CO2 into fuels and chemicals are great. However, for such conversions to become economically feasible, considerable research is necessary. In this lecture we will summarize our recent efforts into the design of new catalytic systems, based on MOFs and COFs, to address these challenges. Examples include the development of new Fe based FTS catalysts, electrocatalysts for the selective conversion of CO2 into syngas, the development of efficient catalysts for the utilization of formic acid as hydrogen storage vector and the development of new enzyme inspired systems for the direct transformation of methane to methanol under mild reaction conditions. References (1) http://www.clearonmoney.com/dw/doku.php?id=public:natural_gas_reserves. (2) Derouane, E. G.; Parmon, V.; Lemos, F.; Ribeiro, F. R. Sustainable Strategies for the Up-grading of Natural Gas: Fundamentals, Challenges, and Opportunities; Springer, 2005. (3) Rofer-DePoorter, C. K. Chemical Reviews. ACS Publications 1981, pp 447–474.

Prática de ensino supervisionada em educação pré-escolar e ensino do 1º ciclo do ensino básico - A hora do conto: relato de práticas

O presente relatório da Prática de Ensino Supervisionada surge no âmbito do Mestrado em Educação Pré-Escolar e Ensino do 1º Ciclo do Ensino Básico da Universidade de Évora e é o resultado de uma investigação sustentada pela ação educativa desenvolvida ao longo da Prática de Ensino Supervisionada, no Pré-Escolar e no 1º Ciclo do Ensino Básico. Esta investigação tem como principais objetivos compreender de que forma se processa a hora do conto nos dois contextos onde realizei a minha prática, nomeadamente compreender qual a sua importância na promoção da leitura. Para isso, pretendi responder às seguintes questões: Que práticas devo realizar para promover a leitura, para formar leitores competentes, autónomos, e para desenvolver a capacidade linguística das crianças? E como dinamizar a hora do conto no ambiente educativo? Neste sentido, procedeu-se à construção do quadro teórico que sustenta a investigação do tema “A hora do conto: Relato de práticas”, onde procuro compreender a importância e a dinamização da hora do conto, nomeadamente na promoção da leitura. Para além da fundamentação teórica, a metodologia adotada foi a investigação-ação, onde propus uma prática de dinamização e promoção da leitura. Importa também realçar a importância dos instrumentos de investigação utilizados durante a PES, que contribuíram para a recolha de dados, nomeadamente a entrevista semiestruturada realizada à educadora e professora cooperante, possibilitando assim o alcance dos objetivos acima enunciados. Assim, a investigação permitiu contribuir de forma significativa para a ampliação dos estudos acerca da importância da Hora do Conto como um importante veículo para a formação de leitores, uma vez que o gosto pelas histórias começa na voz dos pais, passa pelos contadores, educadores, professores, os quais assumem uma grande responsabilidade de introduzir a criança no mundo da literatura; ABSTRACT: This report of the Supervised Teaching Practice comes under the Master’s Degree in Pre-school Teaching and Primary Education of the University of Évora and is the result research supported by the education developed throughout Supervised Teaching Practice in Preschool and in Primary Education. The main objectives of this inquiry are to understand how story time is processed in two contexts where I did my practice, in particular to understand what is the importance in promoting reading. For this reason, I wanted to answer the following questions: What practices should I take to promote reading, to form competent readers, autonomous, and to develop the linguistic ability of children? And how to encourage story time within the educational environment? In this sense, a theoretical framework was designed which supports the inquiry of the theme "The Story Time: Reporting practices", where I try to understand the importance and the encouragement of story time, particularly in the promotion of reading. In addition to the theoretical foundation, the methodology adopted was research-action, where I proposed a practice of stimulation and promotion of reading. It is also important to emphasize the importance of the research tools used during the PES, which contributed to the collection of data, in particular structured interviews held with the teacher and teacher’s assistant, thus enabling to achieve the objectives set out above. This way the investigation significantly contributed to the expansion of the studies about the importance of story time as as an important vehicle for the formation of readers, since the taste for stories begins in the parental voice, passes by storytellers, educators , teachers who take on a great responsibility to introduce the child in the world of literature.

Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE) improved communication skills of student of Pharmacology in Medicine and Podiatry degree.

Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE) improved communication skills of student of Pharmacology in Medicine and Podiatry degree. Bellido I, Blanco E, Gomez-Luque A. D. Pharmacology and Clinical Therapeutic. Medicine School. University of Malaga. IBIMA. Malaga, Spain. Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) are versatile multipurpose evaluative tools that can be utilized to assess health care professionals in a clinical setting including communication skills and ability to handle unpredictable patient behavior, which usually are not included in the traditional clinical exam. To designee and perform OSCEs by student is a novelty that really like to the students and may improve their arguing and planning capacities and their communication skills. Aim: To evaluate the impact of designing, developing and presenting Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE) by student in the communication skills development and in the learning of medicines in Medicine and Podiatry undergraduate students. Methods: A one-year study in which students were invited to voluntarily form groups (4 students maximum). Each group has to design and perform an OSCE (10 min maximum) showing a clinical situation/problem in which medicines’ use was needed. A clinical history, camera, a mobile-phone's video editor, photos, actors, dolls, simulators or whatever they may use was allowed. The job of each group was supervised and helped by a teacher. The students were invited to present their work to the rest of the class. After each OSCE performance the students were encouraged to ask questions if they wanted to do it. After all the OSCEs performances the students voluntarily answered a satisfaction survey. Results: Students of Pharmacology of Medicine degree and Podiatry degree, N=80, 53.75% female, 21±2.3 years old were enrolled. 26 OSCEs showing a clinical situation or clinical problem were made. The average time spent by students in making the OSCE was 21.5±9 h. The percentage of students which were satisfied with this way of presentation of the OSCE was 89.7%. Conclusion: Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE) designed and performed by student of Pharmacology of the Medicine and Podiatry Degree improved their communication skills.

Two near-optimal layouts for trusslike bridge structures bearing uniform weight between supports

Although the primary objective on designing a structure is to support the external loads, the achievement of an optimal layout that reduces all costs associated with the structure is an aspect of increasing interest. The problem of finding the optimal layout for bridgelike structures subjected to a uniform load is considered. The problem is formulated following a theory on economy of frame structures, using the stress volume as the objective function and including the selection of appropriate values for statically indeterminate reactions. It is solved in a function space of finite dimension instead of using a general variational approach, obtaining near-optimal solutions. The results obtained with this profitable strategy are very close to the best layouts known to date, with differences of less than 2% for the stress volume, but with a simpler layout that can be recognized in some real bridges. This strategy could be a guide to preliminary design of bridges subject to a wide class of costs.

O SIVICC como um sistema dissuasor da ilicitude e de apoio à atividade operacional da GNR

O objeto de estudo da presente investigação é o SIVICC. Sendo o objetivo geral demonstrar o seu desempenho organizacional nos domínios da dissuasão da ilicitude, do apoio à decisão e do suporte à atividade operacional da GNR, procurando adicionar e aprofundar conhecimento teórico e empírico. Em termos de metodologia optámos por uma estratégia de investigação qualitativa e relativamente ao desenho da pesquisa optou-se pela transversal. Os métodos e técnicas utilizadas foram as entrevistas semiestruturadas com a respetiva análise de conteúdo e a análise documental. Como resultado principal destacamos que, com base numa doutrina assente em princípios centrados em rede e no empirismo resultante das entrevistas efetuadas, o SIVICC proporciona superioridade de informação resultando numa consciência situacional partilhada da organização, o que conduz a melhores efeitos operacionais, que contribuem na prossecução da segurança de Portugal e da UE, através de uma efetiva vigilância diária e controlo do mar territorial e zona costeira. Concluímos que o SIVICC promove um apoio importante na tomada de decisão e suporta eficazmente e eficientemente a atividade operacional da GNR, que se vai refletir numa vantagem competitiva sobre o adversário que é persuadido a mudar os seus comportamentos através da dissuasão que o sistema proporciona. Abstract: The study object of this research is the SIVICC. The overall goal is to prove their organizational performance in the areas of deterrence of unlawful, in decision support and in supporting the operational activities of the GNR, attempting to add and deepen theoretical and empirical knowledge. In terms of methodology we chose a qualitative research strategy and for the design of research we chose the transversal. The methods and techniques used were semi-structured interviews with the respective content analysis and document analysis. The main result we highlight, based on a doctrine sustained on principles of centered network operations and a result empiricism of conducted interviews, that the SIVICC provides information superiority resulting in a shared situational awareness of the organization, leading to better operational effects that contribute to the pursuit security in Portugal and in the EU, through effective daily monitoring and control of the territorial sea and coastal zone. We conclude that the SIVICC promotes an important support decision making and supports effectively and efficiently operational activity of the GNR, which will reflect a competitive advantage over the adversary who is persuaded to change their behavior through deterrence that the system provides.

Pseudospectral methods and numerical continuation for the analysis os structured population models.

191 p.

Da organização e gestão do processo de treino e competição à análise das cargas por função na competição

Este trabalho consiste na elaboração do Relatório Final do Estágio Curricular, realizado como parte integrante e conclusiva do curso de Mestrado em Treino Desportivo pela Faculdade de Motricidade Humana. O Estágio desenvolveu-se no Real Sport Clube, nomeadamente no escalão de Juniores A na época de 2014/2015 tendo como objetivos favorecer a integração e consolidação, no contexto da prática, os conhecimentos teóricos adquiridos ao longo do curso. O presente relatório está estruturado em diferentes capítulos, ao longo dos quais se apresentam as atividades desenvolvidas durante o Estágio Curricular. O propósito é descrever e refletir sobre as atividades desenvolvidas ao longo da época, pretendendo-se realizar uma avaliação de todo o trabalho desenvolvido e os conhecimentos dele derivado, ao descrever e analisar criticamente as duas dimensões. O relatório tem inicio com uma revisão da literatura que suporta a prática profissional, composta por três áreas: a área 1 diz respeito à organização e gestão do processo de treino e competição, onde são abordadas as tarefas relativas à conceção dos ciclos de treino, condução das sessões e controlo da competição bem como algumas informações relativas ao plantel de Juniores A do RSC. Na área 2 é apresentado um estudo de investigação realizado com recurso a dispositivos GPS que nos apresenta resultados relativos às distâncias percorridas pelos diferentes atletas em jogos oficiais e por último, a área 3 ilustra os dois eventos realizados direcionados para a formação continua dos treinadores de futebol. O Estágio Curricular mostra-se, neste sentido, uma ótima oportunidade de aprendizagem e promotor da aquisição e desenvolvimento de competências profissionais e pessoais, de atitudes e resolução de problemas pedagógicos, por forma a constituir o ponto de partida para uma futura integração no mercado de trabalho.

Optimal resource allocation and budgeting in libraries

Libraries since their inception 4000 years ago have been in a process of constant change. Although, changes were in slow motion for centuries, in the last decades, academic libraries have been continuously striving to adapt their services to the ever-changing user needs of students and academic staff. In addition, e-content revolution, technological advances, and ever-shrinking budgets have obliged libraries to efficiently allocate their limited resources among collection and services. Unfortunately, this resource allocation is a complex process due to the diversity of data sources and formats required to be analyzed prior to decision-making, as well as the lack of efficient integration methods. The main purpose of this study is to develop an integrated model that supports libraries in making optimal budgeting and resource allocation decisions among their services and collection by means of a holistic analysis. To this end, a combination of several methodologies and structured approaches is conducted. Firstly, a holistic structure and the required toolset to holistically assess academic libraries are proposed to collect and organize the data from an economic point of view. A four-pronged theoretical framework is used in which the library system and collection are analyzed from the perspective of users and internal stakeholders. The first quadrant corresponds to the internal perspective of the library system that is to analyze the library performance, and costs incurred and resources consumed by library services. The second quadrant evaluates the external perspective of the library system; user’s perception about services quality is judged in this quadrant. The third quadrant analyses the external perspective of the library collection that is to evaluate the impact of the current library collection on its users. Eventually, the fourth quadrant evaluates the internal perspective of the library collection; the usage patterns followed to manipulate the library collection are analyzed. With a complete framework for data collection, these data coming from multiple sources and therefore with different formats, need to be integrated and stored in an adequate scheme for decision support. A data warehousing approach is secondly designed and implemented to integrate, process, and store the holistic-based collected data. Ultimately, strategic data stored in the data warehouse are analyzed and implemented for different purposes including the following: 1) Data visualization and reporting is proposed to allow library managers to publish library indicators in a simple and quick manner by using online reporting tools. 2) Sophisticated data analysis is recommended through the use of data mining tools; three data mining techniques are examined in this research study: regression, clustering and classification. These data mining techniques have been applied to the case study in the following manner: predicting the future investment in library development; finding clusters of users that share common interests and similar profiles, but belong to different faculties; and predicting library factors that affect student academic performance by analyzing possible correlations of library usage and academic performance. 3) Input for optimization models, early experiences of developing an optimal resource allocation model to distribute resources among the different processes of a library system are documented in this study. Specifically, the problem of allocating funds for digital collection among divisions of an academic library is addressed. An optimization model for the problem is defined with the objective of maximizing the usage of the digital collection over-all library divisions subject to a single collection budget. By proposing this holistic approach, the research study contributes to knowledge by providing an integrated solution to assist library managers to make economic decisions based on an “as realistic as possible” perspective of the library situation.

Preparação e caracterização de catalisadores à base de titânio suportado em MCM-41 para produção de compostos oxigenados através da pirólise catalítica do capim elefante

In recent years, the area of advanced materials has been considerably, especially when it comes to materials for industrial use, such as is the case with structured porosity of catalysts suitable for catalytic processes. The use of catalysts combined with the fast pyrolysis process is an alternative to the oxygenate production of high added value, because, in addition to increasing the yield and quality of products, allows you to manipulate the selectivity to a product of interest, and therefore allows greater control over the characteristics of the final product. Based on these arguments, in this work were prepared titanium catalysts supported on MCM-41 for use in catalytic pyrolysis of biomass, called elephant grass. The reactions of pyrolysis of biomass were performed in a micro pyrolyzer, Py-5200, coupled to GC / MS, the company CDS Corporation, headquartered in the United States. The catalysts Ti-MCM-41 in different molar ratios were characterized by XRD, TG / DTG, FT-IR, SEM, XRF, UV-visible adsorption of nitrogen and the distribution of particle diameter and specific surface area measurement by the BET method. From the catalytic tests it was observed that the catalysts synthesized showed good results for the pyrolysis reaction.The main products were obtained a higher yield of aldehydes, ketones and furan. It was observed that the best reactivity is a direct function of the ratio Si/Ti, nature and concentration of the active species on mesoporous supports. Among the catalysts Ti-MCM-41 (molar ratio Si / Ti = 25 and 50), the ratio Si / Ti = 25 (400 ° C and 600 ° C) favored the cracking of oxygenates such as acids , aldehydes, ketones, furans and esters. Already the sample ratio Si / Ti = 50 had the highest yield of aromatic oxygenates

Surface structured platinum electrodes for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide in imidazolium based ionic liquids

The direct CO2 electrochemical reduction on model platinum single crystal electrodes Pt(hkl) is studied in [C2mim+][NTf2−], a suitable room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) medium due to its moderate viscosity, high CO2 solubility and conductivity. Single crystal electrodes represent the most convenient type of surface structured electrodes for studying the impact of RTIL ion adsorption on relevant electrocatalytic reactions, such as surface sensitive electrochemical CO2 reduction. We propose here based on cyclic voltammetry and in situ electrolysis measurements, for the first time, the formation of a stable adduct [C2mimH–CO2−] by a radical–radical coupling after the simultaneous reduction of CO2 and [C2mim+]. It means between the CO2 radical anion and the radical formed from the reduction of the cation [C2mim+] before forming the corresponding electrogenerated carbene. This is confirmed by the voltammetric study of a model imidazolium-2-carboxylate compound formed following the carbene pathway. The formation of that stable adduct [C2mimH–CO2−] blocks CO2 reduction after a single electron transfer and inhibits CO2 and imidazolium dimerization reactions. However, the electrochemical reduction of CO2 under those conditions provokes the electrochemical cathodic degradation of the imidazolium based RTIL. This important limitation in CO2 recycling by direct electrochemical reduction is overcome by adding a strong acid, [H+][NTf2−], into solution. Then, protons become preferentially adsorbed on the electrode surface by displacing the imidazolium cations and inhibiting their electrochemical reduction. This fact allows the surface sensitive electro-synthesis of HCOOH from CO2 reduction in [C2mim+][NTf2−], with Pt(110) being the most active electrode studied.