Selective photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of 3-methylpyridine to vitamin B by WO decorated nanotube-structured TiO

• Published in: Chemical communications (Cambridge, England) England), 2023-05, Vol.59 (38), p.5741-5744
• Main Authors: Çetinkaya, S d ka, Özcan, Levent, Alagöz, O uzhan, Palmisano, Leonardo, Yurdakal, Sedat
• Format: Article
• ISSN: 1359-7345; 1364-548X
• DOI: 10.1039/d3cc01394d

Nanotube-structured TiO 2 electrodes on Ti plates were formed in ethylene glycol solution by the anodic oxidation method applied for different times and calcined at 500 °C. Different amounts of WO 3 were decorated on the nanotube surfaces electrochemically. The electrodes were characterized, and the effects of the nanotube length on the Ti plate, decorated WO 3 amount, electrolyte concentration, applied potential, and type of radiation source on the oxidation of 3-methylpyridine were investigated, together with the product distribution/selectivity. In a photoelectrocatalytic system, the vitamin B 3 yield increased significantly ( ca. 17 fold) under UVA by decorating nanotube-structured TiO 2 with WO 3 , whilst low reaction rates and no products were found under Vis irradiation, as only unselective photolytic reactions occurred. This unexpected result was clarified for the first time in the literature. Photoelectrocatalytic and photolytic processes occurred competitively under UVA. The photolytic reactions reduced the vitamin B 3 selectivity in a PEC reaction.