Selective Production of Benzaldehyde Using Metal‐Free Reduced Graphene Oxide/Carbon Nitride Hybrid Photocatalysts

Abstract

AbstractBenzyl alcohol was selectively oxidized to benzaldehyde in aqueous solution, at ambient conditions of temperature and pressure, by using a photocatalytic approach, with two types of irradiation sources, namely monochromatic UV−A light (392 nm) and visible light (400‐700 nm). Conversion after 4 h of reaction was more efficient under UV than under visible, with selectivity in excess of 80% for both irradiating sources. Composites of graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) containing small amounts of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) (up to 1 wt.%) were used as photocatalysts. The presence of rGO was confirmed by spectroscopic and microscopic analyses. Results show that small amounts of rGO phase can considerably enhance the photocatalytic activity of g‐C3N4 based catalysts, the best load being 0.10 wt.%. This improvement is attributed to the critical modification of morphological and electronic properties provided by the presence of rGO.