PdO-decorated ZnWO4 heterojunctions: One-pot approach and quick solar-light-driven photocatalytic reduction of nitrobenzene with excellent recyclability

Aniline (AN) is an omnipresent raw material used to make many products in chemical engineering. As a result, the photocatalytic reduction of nitrobenzene (NB) has gained attention as an eco-friendly technology for producing aniline. This paper presents an environmentally friendly (sol-gel/calcinatio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ceramics international 2024-11
Main Authors: Al-Namshah, K.S., Mohamed, Reda M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aniline
Nitrobenzene
PdO
Photocatalysis
Photocatalytic conversion
ZnWO4
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Summary:Aniline (AN) is an omnipresent raw material used to make many products in chemical engineering. As a result, the photocatalytic reduction of nitrobenzene (NB) has gained attention as an eco-friendly technology for producing aniline. This paper presents an environmentally friendly (sol-gel/calcination) approach to developing mesoporous Zinc tungstate (ZnWO4) nanostructures modified with 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 wt % of narrow bandgap (Eg) PdO nanoparticles (NPs). Analyzing the produced heterostructures showed a mesoporous texture and improved its optical properties after adding PdO. Adding 1.5 wt% PdO to the ZnWO4 nanocrystals significantly reduced the Eg from 3.27 to 2.21 eV, indicating improved visible light harvesting. The produced nanocomposite was applied in the photoconversion of NB into useful AN as a model in chemical industries. The optimal dose of 1.5 wt% PdO-ZWO (1.6 g/L) led to a full photoreduction of NB to AN in 30 min, with high reusability and recycling due to the good mobility and efficient separation of generated charges. The photoconversion mechanism demonstrated that the heterojunction between PdO and ZWO permits Step (S)-scheme charge transfer. This study suggests the usage of sustainable photocatalysts for chemical industries.
ISSN:0272-8842
DOI:10.1016/j.ceramint.2024.11.357