Au@Pt nanoparticles modified classical CdS nanorods for synergistically utilizing photoexcited charges in coupled selective organic transformations

Abstract

The photocatalyst construction determines the cost and photoexcited charge kinetics, whereas reaction system design ensures the synergic utilization of photoexcited charges. Herein, a novel Au13@Pt/CdS hybrid nanomaterial was prepared and used for the coupling selective redox system of aromatic alcohols and nitroarenes. The Au13@Pt nanoparticles evenly and tightly anchored on CdS provided abundant e– enrichment sites and wider charge transfer channels and largely improved photocatalytic performance. After 4 h visible-light illumination (λ > 420 nm), the optimal 0.00115 % Au13@Pt/CdS sample displays that the theoretical yields of aniline (AL) and p-methoxybenzaldehyde (p-MBA) are up to 71.5 % and 94.7 % with an impressive selectivity of over 95 %, therefore, parts of the generated AL and p-MBA further formed Schiff base with a 24.3 % yield. Therefore, this work is expected to offer a way to fabricate a dual-functional photocatalyst for selective organic transformations (P-SOTs). A coupling mechanism of simultaneous SO p-MBA and SR of NB in one system was proposed by a series of physical and chemical characterizations combined with in suit DRIFTS and theoretical calculations.