Photocatalytic performance of SiO2@TiO2 spheres in selective conversion of oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde and reduction of nitrobenzene to aniline

Selective photocatalytic oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde and reduction of nitrobenzene to aniline reactions are investigated by using SiO2@TiO2 spheres produced in a simple route using chitosan as a template. The spheres are predominantly macroporous and, the XRD points out an amorphous crystallographic profile suggesting the uniform distribution of TiO2. Under low-power lighting for 4 hours, the conversions achieved was of the order of 49% and 99% for benzyl alcohol and nitrobenzene, respectively, with selectivity to benzaldehyde and aniline of 99% in both reactions. The study also follows the effects of the solvent and the presence of O2.

Automated summary

In this study, SiO2@TiO2 spheres were synthesized using chitosan as a template, and their catalytic performance in selective photocatalytic oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde and reduction of nitrobenzene to aniline reactions was investigated. The spheres showed predominantly macroporous structure and amorphous crystallographic profile indicating the uniform distribution of TiO2. Under low-power lighting for 4 hours, the conversions achieved were 49% and 99% for benzyl alcohol and nitrobenzene, respectively, with selectivity to benzaldehyde and aniline of 99% in both reactions.