Plasmon-enhanced alcohol oxidations over porous carbon nanosphere-supported palladium and gold bimetallic nanocatalyst

Plasmonic catalysis is a sustainable catalytic process to drive the conventional catalytic reactions under ambient conditions by solar energy. Here, we report a porous carbon nanosphere-supported bimetallic nanocatalyst (Pd-Au/MCN) which exhibits upgraded performance in the oxidation of alcohol under irradiation of light compared to the conventional heating processes and the single metal catalysts (Pd/MCN). The Pd-Au bimetallic nanocatalyst combines photo-active Au nanoparticles, reaction-active Pd nanoparticles, and solar-adsorbing carbon nanospheres. Compared to the alcohol oxidation on Pd/MCN catalyst, Pd-Au/MCN catalyst exhibits almost 5 times higher catalytic activities in the oxidation of 2-Phenylethan-1-ol and 1-Phenylethan-1-ol, and 3 times higher activities in the oxidation of cinnamyl alcohol and 3-methoxybenzyl alcohol under light irradiation at 30 degrees C in water in the absence of a base. Moreover, the bimetallic nanocatalysts were able to be recovered and recycled 5 times without any obvious loss in catalytic activity.

Automated summary

The Pd-Au bimetallic nanocatalyst, with photo-active Au nanoparticles, reaction-active Pd nanoparticles, and solar-adsorbing carbon nanospheres, shows significantly enhanced catalytic activities in alcohol oxidation under light irradiation compared to conventional catalysts. Additionally, it can be recycled multiple times without noticeable loss in catalytic activity.