Value-added conversion of ethanol on morphologically controlled and defect-engineered titanium dioxide nanorods.

Abstract

Developing an environmentally benign and highly effective strategy for the value-added conversion of biomass platform molecules such as ethanol has emerged as a significant challenge and opportunity. This challenge stems from the need to harness renewable solar energy and conduct thermodynamically unfavorable reactions at room temperature. To tackle this challenge, one-dimensional titanium dioxide photocatalysts gave been designed and fabricated to achieve a remarkable photocatalytic selectivity of almost 100% for transforming ethanol into value-added 1,1-diethoxyethane, contrasting the primary production of acetaldehyde in titanium dioxide nanoparticles. By incorporating a Pt co-catalyst and infusing oxygen vacancies into the one-dimensional catalyst, the ethanol transformation rate has doubled to be 128.78 mmol/g/h with respect to that of its unmodified counterpart, about 66.66 mmol/g/h. The underlying mechanism for this increased conversion and selectivity resides in the narrowed bandgap of the catalyst and the prolonged lifetime of the photo-generated carriers. This research offers a promising strategy that intertwines morphological control and defect engineering, offering a promising way for the photocatalytic transformation of essential biomass platform molecules.