Ultrasound-assisted decoration of CuOx nanoclusters on TiO2 nanoparticles for additives free photocatalytic hydrogen production and biomass valorization by selective oxidation

• Ultrasound-assisted ultra-wet (US-UWet) impregnation synthetic method is presented. Mixed cupric and cuprous oxides nanoclusters (< 4 nm) were decorated on TiO 2 P25. The nanocomposite showed H formation capability under low power UV irradiation. additive free oxidation of biomass derived model platform chemicals was studied. Nanocomposite revealed higher selectivity comparing to P25 for HMF BnOH oxidation. herein presented ultrasound-assisted approach followed in order avoid the drawbacks conventional wet synthesis. goal homogeneously decorate surface nanoparticles with nanometric sized clusters mixed oxides. physicochemical features (TiO CuO x ) determined by high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscope (HAADF-STEM), high-resolution microscopy (HR-TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), powder diffraction (XRD), Diffuse reflectance (DR) spectroscopy. an enhanced continuous generate molecular hydrogen upon ultraviolet benchmark commercial did not reveal any these conditions. also a high efficiency additives-free selective partial two well established chemicals/building blocks, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) benzyl alcohol (BnOH) value-added 2,5-diformylfuran (DFF) aldehyde (PhCHO), respectively. DFF PhCHO yield compared