Visible-near-infrared-light-driven selective oxidation of alcohols over nanostructured Cu doped SrTiO3 in water under mild condition

Cu doped SrTiO3 (Cu-STO) has been synthesized and investigated as the photocatalyst for selective alcohol oxidation under mild condition. Cu-STO samples demonstrate intense absorption to visible light and near-infrared light. Using water as the reaction solvent, Cu-STO samples can efficiently oxidize benzyl alcohol (BA) into benzyl aldehyde under both anaerobic and aerobic conditions with high selectivity. In aerobic condition, an apparent quantum efficiency as high as 43.22% at 420 nm has been reached for benzyl alcohol oxidation. More strikingly, the apparent quantum efficiency remains as high as 14.47% even at 700 nm, being the highest one reported to date under similar conditions. Further analysis indicates Cu dopants induces abundant oxygen vacancies and introduces interband springboard into SrTiO3, which effectively extend the light response of SrTiO3 to the visible and NIR region and enhance the separation of charge carriers, being critical to the highly selective and efficient conversion of alcohols.