Effect of Different TiO2 Morphologies for Selective Photoreduction

Abstract

In summary, the work done in this thesis describes few feasible approaches to modify TiO2 based nanostructures in order to perk up the photocatalytic efficiency of hydrogenation reaction of organic compounds which are industrially as well as commercially important. Literature shows that mainly nitroaromatics reduction is studied with TiO2 NPs and other functionalities are not much studied. Herein, it has been revealed that the electronic structure of TiO2 NPs can be modified by size or shape modifications to extend their applicability to higher reduction potential possessing groups such as –CN, -CHO, etc. Further, the selectivity of products during reduction process is very important which is not easy in conventional organic synthesis. Moreover, the selective reduction of 1,3-dinitrobenzene is studied in detail. Furthermore, in order to sensitize TiO2 nanostructures under visible light or solar irradiations, plasmonic metals were loaded and photocatalytic reduction of –NO2 functional group was carried out under mild reaction conditions.