Bi2O2CO3/g-C3N4 Catalyst for Photocatalytic Coupling of Benzylamine under Mild Conditions

The photocatalytic conversion of benzylamine into imine is promising for industrial production and environmental protection. To develop photocatalysts with desirable compositions and microstructures is key to achieve high activity and selectivity. Here we propose the immobilization of Bi₂O₂CO₃ on g-C₃N₄ for the photocatalytic conversion of benzylamine. The Bi₂O₂CO₃/g-C₃N₄ catalyst possesses improved light absorption capacity, electron transmission rate and reduced electron-hole recombination than pure Bi₂O₂CO₃. It can efficiently catalyze benzylamine coupling reaction under mild conditions, i. e., at room temperature, with air as oxidant and no additional oxidant involved. The maximum turnover frequency value of N-benzylbenzaldimine reaches 1555.3 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ under this condition. The Bi₂O₂CO₃/g-C₃N₄ catalyst has potential in other photocatalytic reactions.