TiO2 mesocrystal with exposed (001) facets and CdS quantum dots as an active visible photocatalyst for selective oxidation reactions

• Combined solvothermal alcoholysis and subsequent ion-exchange.
• Mesoporous single-crystal TiO2 (mesocrystal) with exposed (001) facets.
• CdS quantum dots decoration.
• Selective alcohol oxidation via visible light induced photocatalysis.
• Synergetic effect of photosensitization and heterojunction.

CdS quantum dots decorated TiO2 mesocrystals with exposed (001) facets were synthesized by solvothermal alcoholysis and subsequent ion-exchange. The as-prepared photocatalyst exhibited high activity and selectivity in selective oxidations of various alcohols to their corresponding aldehydes under visible light irradiation. The high photocatalytic efficiency could be ascribed to the CdS quantum dots with enhanced photosensitizing effect and CdS-TiO2 heterojunction, the mesoporous structure with high surface area, and the exposed (001) facets with high surface energy and large number of oxygen vacancies, which promoted the light-harvesting, photocatalyst activation by visible lights, photoelectron-hole separation, reactant molecule adsorption and activation. Moreover, it also showed strong durability owing to the excellent stability against structural collapse and either CdS leaching or CdS corrosion.

CdS quantum dots decorated TiO2 mesocrystal with exposed (001) facets was synthesized via solvothermal alcoholysis and subsequent ion-exchange. It exhibited high activity and stability in visible photocatalysis for selective alcohol oxidations owing to photosensitizing effect of CdS quantum dots, CdS-TiO2 heterojunction, mesoporous structure with high surface area, exposed (001) facets with high surface energy and large number of oxygen vacancies.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide