PdPt/SrTiO3:Al-catalysed redox-selective photoreduction of unsaturated carboxylic acids using minimal electron-donor and water

Abstract

We developed a semiconductor photocatalyst, Pd-Pt alloy nanoparticle-loaded, Al-doped SrTiO3 (PdPt/STO:Al), for photoreduction of unsaturated carboxylic acids. By the cooperative STO:Al surface and Pd-Pt alloy nanoparticle, the catalyst dispersed in water provided highly redox-selective photoreduction against oxidative degradation of starting materials/products and against reductive evolution of H2, where minimal glycolic acid worked as an efficient electron-donating fuel.