Facile preparation of CuBi2O4/TiO2 hetero-systems employed for simulated solar-light selective oxidation of 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol model compound

The selective photocatalytic oxidation of organic substances is today considered one the green techniques to synthesize important starting materials in different technological applications. This work reports an efficient, simple and cheap strategy for synthesis a new CuBi2O4-TiO2 (CBO/TiO2) heterosystem at room temperature. prepared powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electrochemical measurements. activity was evaluated performing probe reaction, namely partial 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol (4-MBA) 4-methoxybenzaldehyde (4-MBAld) aqueous solution under irradiation simulated sunlight. CBO/TiO2 coupled systems showed higher photoactivity than single photocatalysts reaching selectivity 45% towards 4‑methoxy-benzaldehyde with conversion 77% after 4 h irradiation. Furthermore, although high achieved, 4-MBAld significant, unlike what has been reported literature many heterogeneous reactions whose generally decreases significantly increasing molecule. improved could be attributed coverage TiO2 surface CBO which reduces subsequent formed aldehyde.