Simple preparation of nitrogen-doped TiO2 and its performance in selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol and benzylamine under visible light

N-doped TiO2, denoted as T_400, was prepared simply by the facile thermal hydrolysis of TiOSO4 using NH4OH both a precipitating agent and nitrogen source. Compared to TiO2 without doping, T_400 provides superior photocatalytic activity toward selective oxidation benzyl alcohol benzylamine under visible light irradiation, with > 85 % conversion 95 selectivity benzaldehyde N-benzylidenebenzylamine products, respectively. The increased photoactivity is ascribed enhanced visible-light absorption efficient photogenerated charge transfer separation supported UV–vis DRS, photoelectrochemical VB-XPS results. catalyst can tolerate presence substituent groups in benzelamine molecules 80 are still achieved, which expands scope substrates utilization. Band energy level compared that undoped determined Mott-Schottky DRS measurements. Possible mechanisms for formation over proposed. This work presents simple synthesis low-cost easily handled inorganic titanium salt instead air/moisture-sensitive alkoxide precursors reveals its potential application organic fine chemicals light.