US EPA

7856024 

Journal Article 

Aloe-vera flower shaped rutile TiO2 for selective hydrogenation of nitroaromatics under direct sunlight irradiation 

Singh, S; Prajapat, R; Rather, RA; Pal, B 

2020 

Yes 

Arabian Journal of Chemistry
ISSN: 1878-5352 

13 

1 

2171-2182 

English 

10.1016/j.arabjc.2018.04.002 

WOS:000505076000169 

http://://WOS:000505076000169
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This study reveals the fabrication of a sunlight receptive flower shaped rutile TiO2 microstructure (F-TiO2) for the selective photoreduction of nitroaromatics. The crystalline F-TiO2 possesses small band gap (∼2.8 eV) and large specific surface area (193 m2g−1). Moreover, the F-TiO2 exhibited higher relaxation time (120 µs) for the electron-hole pairs due to its brilliant multi dimensional morphology that enables shorter diffusion path and multiple scattering of active sites. The experimental results revealed the superior photocatalytic activity of the F-TiO2 microstructure in contrast to active P25 and rutile TiO2 (obtained from thermally treated P25 at 800 °C for 4 h) for the reduction of nitrobenzene, m-dinitrobenzene and 2,2-dinitrobiphenyl in 50% aqueous isopropanol (hole scavenger) to aniline (42–72%), m-nitroaniline (37–42%), m-phenylenediamine (88–100%) and benzo[c]cinnoline (80–94%) respectively under UV and direct sunlight irradiation. The quantitative estimation of byproducts like acetone and hydrogen (H2) produced from iso-propanol oxidation and water splitting during instant reduction of nitroaromatics to aromatic amines is well correlated and explained on the basis of its beneficial surface structural and electronic properties. © 2018 

Flower shaped rutile TiO2; Low temperature synthesis of rutile phase; Lower recombination rate of charge carriers; Selective photocatalytic nitroaromatic reduction; Sunlight irradiation