Synthesis of TiO2/Bi2MoO6 Composite for Partial Oxidation of Aromatic Alkanes under Visible-Light Illumination

Novel TiO 2 /Bi 2 MoO 6 heterostructures with TiO 2 particles loaded on a Bi 2 MoO 6 sheet were fabricated by a simple solvothermal process. A series of characterization techniques such as SEM, TEM, XRD, XPS, UV–vis DRS, and electrochemical impedance approach were used to study the physicochemical properties of the as-prepared materials. The TiO 2 /Bi 2 MoO 6 composites were used for partial oxidation of aromatic alkanes into benzaldehyde and its derivatives using O 2 as an oxidant under the irradiation of visible light. At a TiO 2 -to-Bi 2 MoO 6 molar ratio of 0.10, the composite exhibits excellent performance with benzaldehyde production rate being 1036.8 μmol · g –1 · h –1 . The outstanding performance is ascribed to enhanced separation of charge carriers by loading TiO 2 nanoparticles. The as-prepared composites are reusable photocatalysts for partial oxidation of aromatic alkanes under ambient conditions.