Surface synergetic effects of Pt clusters/monolayer Bi2MoO6 nanosheet for promoting the photocatalytic selective reduction of 4-nitrostyrene to 4-vinylaniline

Pt clusters supported on monolayer Bi2MoO6 nanosheets (Pt/BMO-NS) are constructed for the photocatalytic selective reduction of 4-nitrostyrene to 4-vinylaniline in the presence of HCOONH4 and exhibit high conversion (approximate to 100%) of 4-nitrostyrene and high selectivity (approximate to 100%) of 4-vinylaniline. In situ FTIR spectra and XPS spectra of BMO-NS absorbed 4-nitrostyrene further demonstrate that 4-nitrostyrene can be selectively absorbed and activated on surface Mo5+ and Bi2+ sites of BMO-NS via the Bi center dot center dot center dot O-N or Mo center dot center dot center dot O-N coordination. The Pt clusters and photogenerated carriers synergistically make the efficient dissociation of HCOO- to form rich center dot CO2- and active center dot H, greatly supporting the selective reduction of 4-nitrostyrene to 4-vinyaniline. This work not only highlights the complete utilization of photo-generated carriers to achieve the selective reduction of 4-nitrostyrene to 4-vinylaniline via photocatalytic hydrogen transfer, but also uses metal/monolayer nanosheets as a molecule platform to deeply study the surface/interface synergetic mechanism at the molecule level.

Automated summary

Pt clusters supported on Bi2MoO6 nanosheets were found to efficiently catalyze the selective reduction of 4-nitrostyrene to 4-vinylaniline. The results demonstrate that 4-nitrostyrene can be selectively adsorbed and activated on Mo5+ and Bi2+ sites, and the synergy between Pt clusters and photogenerated carriers facilitates the dissociation of HCOO- to support the selective reduction of 4-nitrostyrene.