Visible light driven photooxidation of phenol on TiO2/Cu-loaded carbon catalysts

The photocatalytic performance of titania/Cu-carbon composites was investigated towards phenol degradation under visible light. The approach consisted on the incorporation of the transition metal on the carbon component of the hybrid composite via impregnation of the carbon precursor with a metal salt followed by activation. Data showed a homogeneous dispersion of copper particles within the carbonaceous matrix, predominantly as copper (II) species. The synthesized carbons displayed a well developed nanoporous texture, although comparatively the impregnation of copper caused a marked inhibition of the textural development of the carbon precursor. The phenol photooxidation tests carried out on 1:1 titania/carbon composites showed the outstanding role of copper under visible light, with an increased efficiency in terms of phenol conversion, mineralization degree and degradation rate. This is important, since similar overall conversions were obtained with half of the amount of the photoactive semiconductor (1:1 composites). The beneficial effect of copper loading was also observed in the marked regioselectivity towards the preferential formation of catechol. Furthermore, the copper-loaded photocatalyst was found to be stable with no lixiviation or photorreduction of the copper species after illumination.