Selective Aerobic Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohol Driven by Visible Light on Gold Nanoparticles Supported on Hydrotalcite Modified by Nickel Ion

A series of hydrotalcite (HT) and hydrotalcite modified by the transition metal ion Ni(II) was prepared with a modified coprecipitation method before being loaded with gold nanoparticles. The gold supported on Ni3Al hydrotalcite with a Ni2+/Al3+ molar ratio of 3:1 was investigated. Different techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV-vis diffuse reflection spectrum (UV-vis DRS) were applied to characterize the catalysts. A single-phase catalyst with high crystallinity, a layered structure and good composition was successfully fabricated. Good conversions and superior selectivities in the oxidation of benzyl alcohol and its derivatives were obtained with visible light due to the effect of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of gold nanoparticles and the synergy of the transition metal ion Ni(II). This reaction was proven to be photocatalytic by varying the intensity and wavelength of the visible light. The catalyst can be recycled three times. A corresponding photocatalytic mechanism of the oxidation reaction of benzyl alcohol was proposed.