Monolayer HNb₃O₈ for Selective Photocatalytic Oxidation of Benzylic Alcohols with Visible Light Response

Abstract

Monolayer HNb 3 O 8 2D nanosheets have been used as highly chemoselective and active photocatalysts for the selective oxidation of alcohols. The nanosheets exhibit improved photocatalytic activity over their layered counterparts. Results of in situ FTIR, DRS, ESR, and DFT calculations show the formation of surface complexes between the Lewis acid sites on HNb 3 O 8 2D nanosheets and alcohols. These complexes play a key role in the photocatalytic activity of the material. Furthermore, the unique structural features of the nanosheets contributed to their high photocatalytic activity. An electron transition from the coordinated alcohol species to surface Nb atoms takes place and initiates the aerobic oxidation of alcohols with high product selectivity under visible light irradiation. This reaction process is distinct from that of classic semiconductor photocatalysis.

Fabrication of WO2.72/RGO nano-composites for enhanced photocatalysis

“…[13][14][15][16] For semiconductors, morphology control is known as an effective strategy to modifying their photocatalytic properties. 17,18 Till now, WO 2.72 samples with various morphologies, e.g. nanowires, nanorods, nanosheets and hierarchical structures, have been successfully synthesized and applied as robust semiconductor photocatalysts.…”

Alcohols Enrichment Enables Their Electrooxidation Coupled with H2 Production at High Current Density

“…These variations may be attributed to the interaction between Au and benzene ring of benzyl alcohol that leads to the decrease of benzene symmetry, because breaking of symmetry was demonstrated to give rise to band shifting and splitting 39 . Moreover, the bands of δ(O−H) and ν(C−O) shift to lower wavenumbers and the intensity of δ(O−H) band is weakened due to the adsorption of benzyl alcohol 40,41 . New bands at 1125 cm −1 were observed, which are assigned to the stretching mode of C−O bond of alcoholate species adsorbed on the CoOOH 42 .…”

Exfoliated Pd/HNb3O8 nanosheet as highly efficient bifunctional catalyst for one-pot cascade reaction

“…18.5 or 2.2 times higher acid site [30]. On the other hand, the unsaturated surface Nb metal centers may offer Lewis acid sites [46]. Fig.…”