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Shedding light on the nature of the catalytically active species in photocatalytic reactions using Bi2O3 semiconductor

Author

Listed:
  • Paola Riente

    (Eindhoven University of Technology)

  • Mauro Fianchini

    (The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST))

  • Patricia Llanes

    (The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST))

  • Miquel A. Pericàs

    (The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST)
    Universitat de Barcelona)

  • Timothy Noël

    (Eindhoven University of Technology
    University of Amsterdam (UvA))

Abstract

The importance of discovering the true catalytically active species involved in photocatalytic systems allows for a better and more general understanding of photocatalytic processes, which eventually may help to improve their efficiency. Bi2O3 has been used as a heterogeneous photocatalyst and is able to catalyze several synthetically important visible-light-driven organic transformations. However, insight into the operative catalyst involved in the photocatalytic process is hitherto missing. Herein, we show through a combination of theoretical and experimental studies that the perceived heterogeneous photocatalysis with Bi2O3 in the presence of alkyl bromides involves a homogeneous BinBrm species, which is the true photocatalyst operative in the reaction. Hence, Bi2O3 can be regarded as a precatalyst which is slowly converted in an active homogeneous photocatalyst. This work can also be of importance to mechanistic studies involving other semiconductor-based photocatalytic processes.

Suggested Citation

  • Paola Riente & Mauro Fianchini & Patricia Llanes & Miquel A. Pericàs & Timothy Noël, 2021. "Shedding light on the nature of the catalytically active species in photocatalytic reactions using Bi2O3 semiconductor," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-20882-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20882-x
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    Cited by:

    1. Yaguang Li & Xianhua Bai & Dachao Yuan & Fengyu Zhang & Bo Li & Xingyuan San & Baolai Liang & Shufang Wang & Jun Luo & Guangsheng Fu, 2022. "General heterostructure strategy of photothermal materials for scalable solar-heating hydrogen production without the consumption of artificial energy," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.

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