Highly efficient and selective photocatalytic reduction of nitroarenes using the Ni2P/CdS catalyst under visible-light irradiation

A highly efficient and selective heterogeneous photocatalytic system for nitro reduction to amino organics was established using CdS, Ni2P and Na2S/Na2SO3 as a photosensitizer, a cocatalyst and a sacrificial electron donor in aqueous solution, respectively. Two competing pathways for photocatalytic H-2 production and nitro reduction were found. Also, the reduction of nitroarenes to aniline was confirmed to proceed through both the direct and condensation routes.