Photocatalytic synthesis of vanillin using N-doped carbon nanotubes/ZnO catalysts under UV-LED irradiation

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2018

Authors

Sampaio, M.J. (Author) FEUP; Anas Benyounes (Author) Other; Philippe Serp (Author) Other; Joaquim Luís Faria (Author) FEUP; Claúdia G Silva (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Applied Catalysis A: General

Vol. 551

Pages: 71-78

ISSN: 0926-860X

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 10 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 27 Citations

Scientific classification

CORDIS: Technological sciences > Engineering > Chemical engineering

FOS: Engineering and technology > Chemical engineering

Associated Projects

IF/00514/2014/CP1249/CT0004 - Desafiando a síntese em química fina: uma nova abordagem utilizando fotocatalisadores isentos de metais

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00N-MK9

DOI: 10.1016/j.apcata.2017.12.002

Abstract (EN): ZnO synthesized by solid-state thermal process was combined with different contents of nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNT). The materials were characterized by several techniques including thermogravimetric analysis, N-2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, scanning and transmission electron microscopies, and diffuse reflectance UV-vis and photoluminescence spectroscopies. The performance of neat ZnO and N-CNT/ZnO composite materials was evaluated in the selective photocatalytic oxidation of vanillyl alcohol into vanillin under UV-LED irradiation. The presence of the carbon phase in the composite materials (from 5.0 to 10 wt.%) revealed to be crucial for increasing the performance of the photocatalysts. The best performance for vanillyl alcohol oxidation was obtained using the composite containing 5% of carbon phase (5.0%N-CNT/ZnO), with an increase of 22% in vanillin concentration comparing to neat ZnO after 2 h of reaction. This enhancement in the efficiency of ZnO by the introduction of the carbon phase is attributed to the action of N-CNT as effective electron scavengers for ZnO, as revealed by the photoluminescence quenching, inhibiting the recombination of electrons and holes.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8