A Comparative Study on the Choice of the Support in the Elaboration of Photocatalysts for the Photooxidation of Benzyl Alcohol under Mild Conditions

In the quest to combat global warming, traditional thermal chemistry processes are giving way to selective photocatalysis, an eco-friendly approach that operates under milder conditions, using benign solvents like water. Benzaldehyde, a versatile compound with applications spanning agroindustry, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, serves as a fundamental building block for various fine chemicals. This study aims at enhancing benzaldehyde production sustainability by utilizing photooxidation of benzyl alcohol. Gold nanoparticle-based catalysts are renowned for their exceptional efficiency in oxidizing bio-based molecules. In this research, Au nanoparticles were anchored onto three distinct supports: TiO2, ZrO2, and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4). The objective was to investigate the influence of the support material on the selective photocatalysis of benzyl alcohol. In the preparation of g-C3N4, three different precursors—melamine, urea, and a 50:50 mixture of both—were chosen to analyze their impact on catalyst performance. After 4 h of irradiation at 365 nm, operating under acidic conditions (pH = 2), the Au photocatalyst on graphitic carbon nitride support synthesized using urea precursor (Au@g-C3N4(urea)) displayed the optimal balance between conversion (75%) and selectivity (85%). This formulation outperformed the benchmark Au@TiO2, which achieved a similar conversion rate (80%) but exhibited lower selectivity (55%).