Bi-Doped Ti-Oxide Cluster Photocatalyst with High Performance in the Selective Transformation of Benzyl Alcohols to Benzaldehydes

Caiyun Liu, Huihui Niu, Dexin Wang, Yanshu Liu, Amir Said, Guo Wang, Chen Ho Tung, Yifeng Wang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Selective oxidation utilizing sunlight and O2 is a cost-effective technique for converting organic raw materials into value-added products. We present a novel Bi-doped Ti-oxide cluster (TOC), Ti19Bi2, for the selective conversion of benzyl alcohols to benzaldehydes under sunlight irradiation. It is prepared as single crystals and precisely characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. A structure-activity study is performed by combining experiments and density functional theory. Bi mainly contributes to the LUMO + 1 of Ti19Bi2, with a minor effect on the band gap energy. Bi doping causes the accumulation of photogenerated electrons at Bi sites, resulting in potent reducing power and high O2 activation ability, promoting charge separation and interfacial charge transfer. The Ti19Bi2 solar system showed good activity, selectivity, substrate scope, and catalyst recyclability in the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohols. It outperforms reference TOCs free of Bi, such as Ti8O8Bz16 (Bz = benzoate) and commercial TiO2 P25. Additionally, Ti19Bi2 is effective in photocatalytic CO2/epoxide cycloaddition and dye degradation reactions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)6866-6875
Number of pages10
JournalCrystal Growth and Design
Volume23
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - 6 Sep 2023
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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