photocatalytic c-h bond activation by surface anchoring of [coii(saloph)(his)] complex on ag-tio2 nanocomposite

A novel heterojunction plasmonic photocatalyst [co(saloph)(his)]/ag-tio2 as a nanohybrid material was applied for the photocatalytic activity towards the c-h bond cleavage of alcohols to the aldehyde using different oxidants, o2, h2o2, or tbhp under irradiation of visible-light and nhpi as co-catalyst. it was synthesized by photo-deposition of metallic silver nanoparticles on titanium oxide surface and follow it, modification with cobalt(ii) saloph complex under ultrasonic agitation condition using histidine linker to reach a photocatalyst under 50 nm in size and band gap 2.64 ev. the [co(saloph)(his)]/ag-tio2 nanohybrid was characterized with eds, xrd, drs, ft-ir, pl spectroscopies, fesem imaging, and bet technique. the size this three-component plasmonic photocatalyst revealed high photocatalytic efficiency with 95% conversion and 99% selectivity in aerobic conditions. the higher photocatalytic performance of [co(saloph)(his)]/ag-tio2 than the co(saloph)/tio2 and ag-tio2 nps should be related to the localized surface plasmonic resonance (lspr) of these motives. so, this three-component nanohybrid provides an efficient interfacial electron transfer process through a synergistic effect that allows producing a nanocatalyst, with advantages of stability and fast selective c-h bond activation alcohols at ambient temperature using o2 as an inexpensive environmental-friendly oxidant.