Highly efficient and selective photocatalytic reduction of nitroarenes using the Ni2P/CdS catalyst under visible-light irradiation

A highly efficient and selective heterogeneous photocatalytic system for nitro reduction to amino organics was established using CdS, Ni2P and Na2S/Na2SO3 as a photosensitizer, a cocatalyst and a sacrificial electron donor in aqueous solution, respectively. Two competing pathways for photocatalytic H2 production and nitro reduction were found. Also, the reduction of nitroarenes to aniline was confirmed to proceed through both the direct and condensation routes.