Selective Photoelectrochemical Oxidation of Chiral Ibuprofen Enantiomers

The photoelectrochemical method was combined with the in-situ molecular imprinting technique. Using the chiral ibuprofen enantiomers (S-ibuprofen and R-ibuprofen) as template molecules, S-ibuprofen and R-ibuprofen molecular imprinting sites were constructed on the surface of monocrystalline TiO2 nanorods. The imprinted electrodes were capable of selective recognition and catalytic oxidation of S-ibuprofen and R-ibuprofen. The morphology, structure, and composition of the electrode were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy. The electron transfer resistance of the electrode surface was studied with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The photoelectrochemical recognition and degradation were measured photoelectrochemically using the prepared imprinted electrodes as the working electrode. The TiO2 prepared was a single crystal nanorod array. The imprinted sites were successfully constructed on the surface of TiO2 nanorods and had shape selective adsorption capacities. The selective recognition and selective oxidative degradation of chiral ibuprofen enantiomers on the surface of artificial photoelectrocatalysts were realized for the first time.